Heart BEAT

Waitsburg Teens Have A Vision: Ending Hunger

W

AITSBURG

- Teens in the

Waitsburg community will be participating in a 30-hour famine to understand what it's like to be one of the children who go hungry around the world.

Through this famine, the teens will also be raising money for World Vision, a non-profit, Christian organization that helps end poverty and injustice, particularly with children.

Wai t sburg res ident Brandon Miller will be leading the famine for four high school students in his youth group at the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church. This will be the second year the youth group has participated in the famine, Miller said.

He said he liked the idea of completing the 30-hour famine because it benfits a good cause and the teens realize how being truly hungry feels.

"They can relate to it in a real, meaningful way," Miller said.

Miller said World Vision can feed one hungry child for $1 a day and his teens hope to raise more than $1,200.

Last year, Miller said the group raised about $1,000. They will be out in the community this week asking for donations to help alleviate child hunger.

"We want to stop world hunger and poverty by helping those who need food and medicine the most," Miller said.

The four students, Nick Pearson, Chad Pearson, Ben Moser and Paige Wood, will be starting their famine on Friday, April 20, at noon. They will eat lunch and then abstain from eating until 6 p.m. the next day.

Miller said he participated in the famine with his group last year. After the first 12 to 18 hours, he said he experienced tremendous stomach pain. After 24 hours, the body doesn't feel as bad, Miller said. The group will drink lots of water throughout to make their stomachs feel better.

At the end of the famine, the group will gather for a light dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Miller said after not eating for so many hours, the stomach shrinks and he was surprised at how little he ate before he felt full last year. They will have easy-to-eat foods like chicken noodle soup, he added.

To donate to the youth group's famine, contact the individual teens or call Miller at 509-337-3029.

"We would like prayers that it will go well," Miller said.

A second 30-hour famine to benefit World Vision will be organized in Waitsburg by WHS senior Taylor Doepker, 18, as her senior project.

Doepker said she considered doing an easier project, such as holding a mini cheer camp to fulfill the graduation requirement. But, she chose to focus on philanthropy and World Vision instead.

"I decided to do something more meaningful," Doepker said.

She had heard of World Vision through her church and her foster parent Lori Bartlow is involved in the organization.

The famine event has already been rescheduled a couple of times, but Doepker hopes she and about 30 other students will begin complete it on May 6 and 7.

She said she doesn't know exactly how many students will be participating with her because of sports.

She has already had to reschedule a couple of times because of practice and games. Kids in athletics need to be eating, Doepker said.

Her group will start on a Sunday night. She has ordered the packets from World Vision to raise money. Doepker said students can earn prizes through fundraising and she'll be making t-shirts. The group will have a candle ceremony to remember those who have died of hunger and will talk about the organization and its goals.

Her group will break the fast with a spaghetti dinner after the 30 hours at her house.

Doepker's goal for her group is to raise $200 and to put themselves in the shoes of those who go hungry around the world.

"You learn to be thankful for what you have," Doepker said.

To donate to Doepker's project, email her at taylordoepker20@hotmail.com or call her at 509-337- 8079.