More than 600 Thompson High School students joined rock band Shirock Oct. 30 in raising thousands of dollars to benefit local needy children.

The high school sponsored a pair of concerts the day before Halloween to raise money for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Needy Children’s fund.

Students purchased tickets to the concerts for $5, and the school donated $2,500 to the fund, bringing the total donation to more than $3,000, according to Principal Robin Thomas.

“The concert went great. I think about 600 students attended the two concerts,” Thomas said. “We heard great feedback from the kids.”

All funds raised will be used to purchase Christmas presents for area children who may otherwise not receive them, according to the Shelby County Board of Education.

“They raised a good bit of money, and the kids seemed to really enjoy the concerts,” said Lynn Hicks, the school’s student services assistant. “There definitely were a bunch of students in there.”

Shirock, which has been featured on MTV, ABC, NBC and radio stations across the country, tours schools across the United States to encourage students to reject drugs and alcohol, and to become involved in social issues.