October 2, 1996
Contact: Staci I. Shipp (615) 322-2706

Vanderbilt community fasts
for World Hunger Day Oct. 16


The Vanderbilt community will observe World Hunger Day Oct. 16 to remember those without food and to benefit two organizations, Oxfam and Room in the Inn.

Booths, staffed by volunteers, will be stationed all day at Rand, the Divinity School and the Medical School to receive donations for World Hunger Day. University Episcopal Chaplain Becca Stevens says all students, faculty, staff and members of the Vanderbilt community are urged to take part in World Hunger Day by signing up at a booth, donating the money they would normally spend on a meal and fasting for that meal.

Coordinated by the University affiliated chaplains, money raised on World Hunger Day will go to buy food for Room in the Inn, a local organization which provides food and shelter for homeless men and women, and Oxfam, a non-governmental organization which works to provide international famine relief.

"It's the one day out of one year where people are asked to give up a meal and remember those who don't have food," says Stevens. "It's going to take everybody's participation to make it significant."
Stevens indicates the Vanderbilt community is responding to the cause. Already, several Greek organizations have voiced plans to forgo their usual Wednesday evening dinners. Rand dining room will contribute the cost for the evening meal for all students on the meal plan, and the offering at the Catholic mass at Benton Chapel and St. Augustine's Chapel will also benefit the two organizations.
In conjunction with World Hunger Day and as part of its Oxfam project, the Baptist Student Union will be offering gruel on Rand Terrace Oct. 15. University Baptist Chaplain Bill Choate says the grain porridge "will give people an idea of what folks subsist on where they receive assistance."

Stevens says the World Hunger Day project should involve the participation of every Vanderbilt community member. "The event has no dividers. It doesn't just benefit one group -- it's non-partisan... This crosses all political lines and departmental lines," she says. "It's simply to remember those on World Hunger Day who are hungry and combine our small efforts and a community to make a difference. That's all our agenda is."

Anyone interested in volunteering to work at a booth on World Hunger Day may call chaplain intern Mona Bagasao or Stevens at 615/322-4783.

-VU-
[ October '96 Releases |
News Release Archives | News and Public Affairs ]
HTML Translation by Billy Kingsley
This document last updated Jan. 10, 1997