A small group of students fought hunger with empty stomachs on Wednesday as part of 30-Hour Famine, an awareness event for worldwide poverty.
The international fundraiser, organized by the humanitarian organization World Vision, was hosted by Cal Poly’s Raise the Respect program. The fast began early yesterday afternoon and will end tonight with a large meal.
“The world is a lot larger than the campus and there are a lot of people in the world that don’t have enough to eat,” social sciences senior Katie Gluck said. “It’s a small experience of true hunger.”
Donations for victims of hunger were collected by pledging, industrial engineering senior Lauren Herrera said.
“It’s a really awesome, eye-opening experience in realizing how fortunate we are,” she said. “We are sponsored for every hour we don’t eat, but any little bit helps. A dollar can help a child for a day.”
Donations can be given after the event at the community services office, room 216 in the University Union. Working with World Vision gives Raise the Respect the ability to select which country to send the donations.
“We have helped people in Congo and have collected books and supplies for schools in Nubia,” Gluck said. “The contributions for 30-Hour Famine will go to the Haiti food program.”
Booths will be available during the University Union hour and food donations can be given outside of Campus Market and local grocery stores until Friday.