Kids will fast to increase hunger awareness

By RHONDA COSTA-LANDERS

Appeal Features Writer

Young people from the Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church will go without food for 30 hours Friday and Saturday to draw attention to hunger and poverty around the world.

The teens will join thousands of others across the United States and Canada in the annual World Vision "30-hour Famine."

Participants will ask family, friends and neighbors to sponsor them with pledges as they fast, helping them identify with others who are hungry. Through special events and involvement in local community service projects, the youths learn about hunger and how they can help make a difference.

"Everyone should be concerned with the needs of the poor and about the problem of hunger around the world," said the church's Youth Ministry Director Wendy Ralston.

"Sometimes when we see people in need we feel helpless, but the 30-hour Famine gives youth a way to really make a difference in people's lives."

As a part of the famine, the youths will serve meals at the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission Friday evening. They will be in front of the Albertson's grocery store on Highway 50 East in Carson City from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday as well as collecting donations of non-perishable food items door-to-door. The door-to-door visits will actually be a scavenger hunt, with the youth going out into various neighborhoods in teams collecting specific items.

All food collected during this drive will be used to directly help those in need in the community. Donations may be dropped off at the Albertson's location on Saturday.

Call the church at 885-8361.