Students strive to relieve the hunger of children by fasting

The fast begins today at noon and continues until tomorrow at 6 p.m. Participants are expected to refrain from consuming food, although juice and other liquids are acceptable.

"The main point of this event is to feel the hunger that these children face," said Noel Parina, student organizer for the event.

The national event is driven by the Christian organization World Vision, which will use the proceeds to feed hungry children in the United States and abroad, according to a flier for the program.

Although this is the first year campus Christian organizations will take part, the program has been going on for 25 years all over the world. The UA clubs involved include Campus Crusade for Christ, Baptist Student Union and all the ministries of the Campus Christian Center.

Anyone can pledge on a per-hour basis or donate a lump sum. The clubs will have a donation booth set up outside the Fiddlee Fig at the Memorial Student Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those who want to participate in the fast can sign up at the booth and collect pledges.

Donations go directly to World Vision. The groups are also collecting canned food for the Community Food Bank, Parina said.

"Anybody can drop by and pledge or drop off food. Everything helps," said Lynne Personius, a member of the Campus Christian Center.

Activities are planned for about 40 fasting volunteers to keep their mind off food. Tonight, the Campus Christian Center is hosting a coffee house with live entertainment, games, juice and coffee. The event is open to all and the price of admission is one can of food.

Trinity Presbyterian Church on East University Boulevard is serving a meal of stone soup to break the fast to end the 30-Hour Famine tomorrow.

Since this is the first year the groups are hosting the event, Personius said they are not sure how much money they will raise. The group set a rough goal of $500 in pledges and will accept as much canned food as possible, she said.

Parina said, "We want to make this as big as possible to get people aware of what a big problem we have."