Fasting for the Hungry

For more than 35 members of the Youth Group, dinner on Saturday night could not come soon enough. Participating in a 30-hour fast to raise money for World Vision, they had not eaten since lunch on Friday afternoon.

"This makes me think about how other people feel. This is their normal day,” said MHS sophomore Bridget Bottinelli.

And that is exactly the lesson Youth Director Brad Kenney hoped his members were learning.

For the 10th year, FUMC was participating in World Vision’s 30-hour Famine to raise money to help fight world hunger. He estimated that this year they would raise about $3,300 through sponsorships and add another $3,000 to $4,000 worth of canned goods to the Food Pantry.

To keep the kids busy and not focusing on their hungry bellies, a full schedule of activities were planned, explained Kelly Bixby, the junior high youth leader. Bixby has participated with her children for the past eight years. This year her younger two, seventh-grader Max and high school sophomore Danielle, took part.

Friday evening started out with a couple of hours of bowling. Participants returned to the church to build a cardboard city for sleeping that evening.

“We built it inside because it’s too cold outside,” Bixby explained. “But we want them to understand that for a lot of people in poverty, this is their only space. It’s the only thing that keeps them from the elements.”

Seasoned participants like Emily Finkbinder, an MHS sophomore participating for the third year, knew that securing a prime spot in the gym would help.

“And you needs lots of tape,” she added. Finkbinder relaxed in a spacious cardboard structure with friends Bridget Bottinelli, Deanna Winkler, Danielle Bixby and Meredith McGinnis.

“Each year it feels good to help people out,” McGinnis said.

Winkler was the largest fundraiser among her group, having raised $280 in sponsorships.

“I sent e-mails about how people die from hunger to my teachers and friends, and they all gave money,” she said.

Once the cardboard shelters were erected, the group headed to the Recreation Center for late-night games of dodge ball, basketball, pingpong and others.

But everyone, including leaders, would wake up Saturday morning and begin the day without breakfast. Teams were dispatched into the neighborhood for door-to-door collection of donations for the Food Pantry. Leaders Thomas Machaner and Michael Clawgess were tallying the food donations with a point system to determine a winning team. In all, they estimated more than $3,000 worth of canned goods had been donated by neighbors.

Bixby credits the young leadership of Machaner and Clawgess for helping to keep more boys involved with the youth group. Former members themselves and 2009 high school graduates, they remain involved with the church.

“I just love it. I had a good experience and I want to pass it on,” Machaner said.

Five seventh-grade boys from WAMS were among those experiencing their first 30-hour fast.

“This as a lot more fun than I expected,” Zack Booth admitted. “I came because I wanted to see what it was like to live like this.” The five friends, who included Max McGinnis, Max Young, Russell Drzik and Max Bixby, were keeping busy with additions and adjustments to their shelter as the afternoon wore on and hunger set in.

“It’s hard. You feel really tired, you don’t feel like you can move,” Young admitted.

But for this crew and the other participants, there was comfort in a feast being planned by their parents for later that evening. They understood that not everyone is that lucky.

“We know there are people less fortunate. This puts it in perspective,” offered Meredith McGinnis.