The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Snow Lake youth go hungry for a cause There aren't many people in our community who have to go without anything, let alone something as necessary as food. However, in the Third World, an issue as simple as putting a meal on the table is a struggle each day. Many simply go without. It is hard for any of us to fathom this reality, let alone want to experience it. Nevertheless, over a 30-hour period on May 27 and 28, that is what a group of local youth did. Benjamin Davies, Eric Krul, Keplyn Krul, Jessica Davies and Blaise Huff took part in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine. Visiting the youth during the tail end of the event, they explained that the idea came from one of their mentors, Bev Krul. Bev herself explained that after receiving some information advertising the Famine, she felt that it would be a good idea for the Christian Centre's youth group to be involved in it. By taking part in the worldwide event, the youth raised money for World Vision, which will in turn use it to help those suffering from the ravages of famine. Through the sponsorship of many generous people around the community of Snow Lake, the youth group estimate they raised about $1,315. No doubt going 30 hours without food would be taxing in many ways if, for example, those taking part in the famine were just sitting around thinking about what they would eat when it was over. This wasn't the case with these young people, as they were busy throughout! Some of the activities they took part in over the period included games, both inside the church and at the school. They also watched a movie and went on a scavenger hunt. Some of them even went out and cut brush at the Wekusko Youth and Family Camp (the old Scout/Guide camp). When the evening rolled around, they broke into gender-based groups and slept at the Krul home. The first 30 Hour Famine took place In February 1971, when 17-year-old Ruth Roberts and 14 friends staged a 'starve-in' in a church basement in Calgary in order to draw attention to the plight of African children suffering during a continentwide famine. That group raised $600 to help victims of famine. The annual event caught on and a number of church youth groups and schools began participating across Canada. Continued from Page 11 In the early 1980s, with World Vision's support, the 30 Hour Famine became an international fundraiser. Thirty-seven years later, through their schools and churches, more than 100,000 Canadian teens participate annually in the event. In 2007 alone, Canadian youth raised more than $4.5 million. The Famine is now held in 15 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Through their participation in the event, these local teens feel they have all gained a better understanding of the world food crisis. When the price of food goes up in Snow Lake, people grimace and pay the extra, but in Third World countries, they go without because they simply don't have the extra money. Hungry and tired Although the participants were able to have fruit juice and water, the overwhelming opinion of how they felt was hungry and tired. And most felt that even though they wouldn't want to live like this, it wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. All the same, it wasn't something that any of them would want to do on a continual basis, and they were all certainly looking forward to the end. To mark the finish, Ethel Bartlett brought them soup and other edibles once the 30th hour rolled around. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
