Ely teens participate in 30-hour Famine to raise hunger awareness

ELY - A group of teenagers from an Ely church are participating in a 30-hour famine this weekend to raise awareness about world hunger.

The teens, members of the middle school and high school youth groups at First Presbyterian Church near Ely, started fasting at 1 p.m. Friday and will continue their fast until 7 p.m. today. At the end of the fast the group will celebrate with a potluck, said Leigh Benish, 24, the church's youth group director.

The Ely famine is part of a global effort put on by World Vision, a Christian relief organization which targets poverty among children and families around the world. In addition to the fast, the Ely kids will be sleeping in cardboard boxes and volunteering at Mission of Hope in Cedar Rapids.

Benish, 24, said the youth group first participated in the 30-hour famine last year after she received information on the project in the mail.

“We spend about three months preparing for this,” she said. “We learn what the Bible has to say about poverty and how we're supposed to live. We're learning a lot of statistics about poverty, about children dying from starvation.”

The group of 15 to 20 teens is taking monetary and food donations to pass on to the Linn Community Food Bank, and will be spreading the word about world hunger.

“We want to let people know that hunger really is a big issue,” Benish said. “We don't see it here because we are very blessed but there are 26,000 kids under the age of 5 dying everyday from hunger and malnutrition. That's about one kid every seven seconds.”

“The goal of my youth group is to not only become more aware themselves but to raise awareness with their friends and at home with their families, as well,” Benish said.

To contribute: Money or food donations can be sent to First Presbyterian Church near Ely, 11100 Spanish Rd., Ely, IA, 52227