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Hamline students are also getting into the action, with our very own famine taking place on campus during that time. Typically, groups will complete community service projects, do volunteer work, study, or just have fun during the event to take their minds off of the hunger they experience. Juice and water are usually accepted during the 30-hour time span, but participants are also given the opportunity to feel what hunger feels like, which is something most college students in the United States have never had to experience before.

The money raised will go toward the group’s three current primary assistance areas: Asian tsunami relief, severe famine in Kenya, and the refugee crisis in Sudan. World Vision also provides assistance to 21 other nations, including the United States. Fortunately, 86 percent of the funds collected go directly to the relief efforts they support, so almost all contributions go directly to providing aid.

Last year, over 600,000 U.S. youth participated in this event, raising more than 11 million dollars for assistance programs worldwide. This year, the number of participants is expected to surpass one million, raising even more money for causes around the world that desperately need it. While the event is often held in a place of worship, anyone can participate in the experience. Considering that it only takes $360 to provide necessary food and care for a child for an entire year, the efforts of the 30 Hour Famine have the potential to save hundreds of thousands of children from poverty and the destruction left behind by the tsunami that struck much of Asia last December.

For more information, visit www.30hourfamine.org.