When Farrell Area School District started its after-school program for fourth- through eighth-graders, coordinator Margery "Mike" Blauser did not expect students to take to it eagerly.

The program runs until 6 p.m., and some students will have been at school for 10 hours by the time it ends.

But the program has become more popular than organizers can handle, Ms. Blauser said. She can accept 45 students.

"We have to turn kids away every time," she said.

While Ms. Blauser "feels bad" about telling students there isn't room for them, "It's an indication that it's working," she said.

Ms. Blauser, along with Dawn Blaus, coordinator of Sharon School District's after-school program, are hoping parents, educators and anyone else with an interest in after-school programs will attend the "Lights On Afterschool" rally at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in Sharon High School Auditorium to share similar sentiments.

While two school-sponsored programs are holding the local rally, which is open to the public, organizers want to embrace the faith-based and community agency-sponsored programs that hold their own after-school activities, and recognize them at the rally.

"After-school programs have really taken off in the last few years," Ms. Blauser said.

Guest speakers will include Dr. Thomas P. Carey, state deputy secretary of elementary and secondary education; state Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins, R-50th District, Salem Township; and Gary Hodgkins, the manager of JC Penney, Hermitage.

JC Penney Afterschool is the national presenting sponsor of "Lights On Afterschool."

Programs can offer tutoring and other academic-enrichment activities, games, social opportunities and field trips, and give children something to do when their parents are at work.

Ms. Blaus said organizers want to "send a message in the community that children deserve these opportunities."

"These kids need positive things to do after school and they want to do that," Ms. Blauser said. "They have a lot of neat ideas for things to do. It's just amazing how much potential these kids have, and how much creativity."

Sharon's after-school programs outgrew facilities at Musser Elementary and started programs this year at Case Avenue Elementary and the middle school. Each site can handle up to 30 kids a day.

But the programs exist because organizers can afford to pay staff, buy equipment and supplies. Farrell and Sharon, which offer year-round activities, run out of federal funding at the end May, and many community organization-sponsored programs run on donations and volunteers.

The Bush administration is proposing a one-third cut in funding Congress' appropriation of $1.5 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Center, which has funded Sharon and Farrell after-school programs for three years.

Those who attend the rally can sign letters to support continued after-school funding that will be sent to key policymakers.

Information: www.jcpenney.com/afterschool

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at jpinchot@sharonherald.com