Members of the Richwood United Methodist Church youth group will fast for 30 hours beginning Friday, Feb. 23, to raise awareness of world hunger.
“It’s a commitment to go 30 hours without eating in order to raise money for World Vision,” explained Mildred Herman, administrator of the Mullica Hill church. “This is the 23rd year we will be doing (the fast). Our goal this year is to raise $4,000. I expect to have 10 to 12 junior-high and high-school kids participating this year.”
The fasting period will continue through Saturday, Feb. 24. The youth group will meet the night of the 23rd at the church’s Fellowship Hall, where they will learn about the topic of world hunger as well as its causes and effects. World Vision, a charity that helps feed hungry kids around the world, also provides materials for the study session.
“We use the materials from World Vision,” explained Herman, “which usually include a story about a child in a poor country. He or she has very little access to food, clean water, education or health care. We discuss how that would impact us, and how fortunate we are to be born in this country.”
The youth group will then go to a bowling alley before dispersing until the morning of the 24th, when they will again meet at Fellowship Hall before shopping for food to donate to a food pantry.
“Then we’ll gather again Saturday morning to grocery shop for a food pantry, deliver the food and volunteer an hour or two there stocking shelves or helping out in another way,” Herman noted.
Once service at the food pantry is complete, the group will return to the church hall for a scavenger hunt, games and a movie. At 6 p.m., they will have dinner with their families.
To support the fast and make a contribution to World Vision, the church is asking inividuals to donate $40 at either the World Vision website or to the Mildred’s Fundraiser for 30-Hour Famine – 2024 page on Facebook.
One donation – according to the church website – can help feed and provide care to a child for up to a month.
“It’s hard to believe that only $40 can help feed and care for a child for a month,” said Herman.
