30-hour famine delivers real lesson about hunger
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - It is hard for many people who have plenty of food to understand exactly what it feels like to truly be hungry.

In order to help people understand what it feels like to be without food, a 30- hour famine was held by the youths and counselors of the DeBows United Methodist Church to raise money for efforts to combat world hunger.

The church is at the intersection of Route 537 and Route 571. Participants in the 30-hour famine refrained from eating from 6:30 a.m. March 8 to 12:30 p.m. March 9.

"The goal of the 30-hour famine was to raise $1,000 for World Vision," said Betty Gibbons, pastor. "The youths have secured pledges from their friends and from the congregation to support the effort."

During the afternoon and night of March 8, the youths who took part in the special event spent their time at the church without eating, Gibbons said.

The young people spent their time painting a new youth room and going midnight bowling in Wrightstown. They also participated in a scavenger hunt for food that was then donated to the church's food pantry.

The participants slept at the church on Saturday night. On Sunday morning the youth band played and the participants attended a service for world hunger. At the service, the youths shared with the congregation what it felt like to be hungry, the pastor said.

At the end of the 30-hour famine the youths counted down the final moment and then chowed down on pizza.

"After the 30-hour famine, I'm hungry, I'm tired and I just want some pizza," Dani Gordon said. "But this charity is helping starving children, so it's all worth it."

Becky Brodowski said participating in the famine was a difficult journey, but a life-changing one.

"Hunger is like spending days in the desert," Nichole Yannuzzi said.

Abby Stroud said that after 30 hours, "I got to see how kids in Africa feel every day."

The youths received pledges from the congregation and from friends, and so far they have been able to raise about $600 for the cause of world hunger. The money raised will be sent to World Vision, a program that helps people overcome hunger.