While sitting in our homes after enjoying a full meal, our atmosphere of plenty is often shattered by commercials that ask us to feed starving children. Flies swarm around them and their hungry eyes implore you to help.
Some people may feel guilty and wish to help, but never will. Others will feel nothing and turn the channel. And then there are the few who will leave their comfort zones and help those with less.
The 30-hour Famine, held from 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 to 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 was a way for those few to give of themselves for little more than a day.
The Famine is a district-wide Future Homemakers of America project including club members, from Polson to Arlee. Most of the involvement comes from FHS and Columbia Falls High School. Eighteen girls were involved it the gym at Elrod school. The girls kept their minds off of food by listening to music and playing card and board games. They also did community service projects to help the time pass by working at the hospitality room at the high school wrestling divisionals.
"It seemed pretty easy because we had so many community service projects to do," said junior Shelley Struck "It's about saving kids lives," said junior Alison Fitzpatrick. "Thirty five thousand children die of starvation and hunger-related causes every day."
The famine is sponsored by World Vision International, an influential group that combats starvation around the world. Those involved ask people to sponsor them for an hourly rate.
Said Struck, "We got to experience a slight portion of hunger and we slept on hard wood floors. That hurt"
The money that comes from the sponsors will go to World Vision, where it will be divided among four countries: the Dominican Republic, the U.S., Angola and India.
"It gives teenagers an opportunity to help feed and take care of kids around the world," said Struck.
Said Fitzpatrick: "It not only gives you a chance to help the children, but it helps you understand a portion of what they're going through."