Students at Okotoks Junior High School went more than a day without food by participating in the school’s 30-Hour Famine on April 25-26. The students raised more than $6,000 for World Vision.
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By Bruce Campbell
sports Editor
Some students at Okotoks Junior High School may think twice about buying lipstick or rouge after completing the 30-Hour Famine.
They might grab a bag of rice instead.
“Carmen (Wittmeier) from World Vision talked to us about how much people spend on things in relation to food,” said Grade 9 student Hillary Cooling.
“She said that it would cost about $19 billion to feed the world and last year, people spent $18 billion on make up.”
Thirty-two students from the junior high school made a small dent in that $19 billion total by raising more than $6,000 for World Vision.
The students had their last meal at 12:30 p.m. on Friday April 25 and they wouldn’t eat again until 6:30 p.m. Saturday April 26.
Grade 9 student Alex Williamson had some fruit and vegetables prior to starting the 30-hour famine. Though she got hungry, she said knowing that she had a pizza party at the end of the 30 hours made her realize they didn’t have it as bad as others.
“It just made me want to do this more,” Williamson said. “There are people in the world who go for weeks without food and we just had to go for 30 hours.”
The students were only allowed to have juice and water.
Grade 9 student Victoria Wilson said the famine was organized by the leadership class (taught by Brandi Henheffer, who along with her husband Jim participated in the 30-hour famine as well).
Wilson said the money was raised by some students knocking on doors asking for pledges.
As well, some classes had students bringing in a loonie and the teachers matched the funds.
She said the experience was worthwhile.
“I think I learned that you can do little things to help make a difference in the world,” Wilson said.
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