Once again, Olivet Baptist Church in Bellwood, will participate in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine.
Approximately 20 teens representing Bellwood, Tyrone and Altoona area schools will participate in the event tomorrow and Saturday.
Joining approximately half a million others nationwide in their effort to raise awareness and help those in need, the teens will get a real taste of hunger by going without food for 30 hours to help feed and care for children living in extreme poverty around the world. This year’s goal is to raise $15 million to fight world hunger.
Now in its 15th year, World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine raises awareness and money to fight hunger overseas and in the United States. During the 30 hours, participating teens go without food, consuming only liquids, learn about world hunger and poverty, and perform community service projects. Teens participate in groups through schools, churches, youth groups and civic organizations.
This is the he eleventh year Olivet Baptist Church has participated.
This event helps “raise money for children and for improving communities,” explained John Poe, youth pastor at Olivet Baptist Church.
The famine begins after lunch on Friday. Students eat lunch and go about their daily routine. Poe explained previously the kids are on the honor system at the point.
Friday evening, the group gathers at the church where they hold discussions and have movies available to watch. There is usually a special event planned for Friday night and in the past, groups have gone bowling or ice skating.
Along with the famine, the group also participates in service projects.
This year, projects throughout the area are aimed at helping single moms and widows.
The group will participate in the automobile oil change on Saturday, sponsored by the church. Single moms and widows were invited to make an appointment. Volunteers from the church will pick up the car, change the oil, clean the windows and vacuum it before returning the vehicle. The whole process takes a few hours. The deadline for participating was yesterday.
Also, the teens plan to help a single mom paint her house and clean up a home for a widow.
Last year participants volunteered at Joshua House in Tyrone and the Good Will Store in Altoona.
“The famine is a great opportunity for students to really learn what it’s like to go to bed hungry and wake up and not have food to eat. Thousands of children face this on a regular basis,” said Poe.
“Our students have the chance to make a difference for those children across the world and also make an impact here in our community,” he continued, “It’s a win-win event.”
When the 30 hour fast ends on Saturday evening, a meal is served to the participants, in order to break the fast together.
Poe previously explained the meal is usually served for about 50 cents a plate, which is similar to what World Vision would provide to those in need. This helps show students what it is like to be hungry and then to receive a meal.
“This gives our students the opportunity to feel what it’s like to miss three meals,” said Poe. “That’s unusual in America but it’s normal for many kids throughout the world.”
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision serves the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information about World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.
Individuals can also learn more about the 30 Hour Famine by visiting www.30hourfamine.org.
