Youth group participates in 30 Hour Famine

William MacDonald Murray
Rector

Father Mac with a very young parishioner.

Trinity Episcopal Church
17 Congress Street
Milford, MA 01757

(508) 473-8464

office@trinitychurchmilford.org

http://www.trinitychurchmilford.org

Youth group participates in 30 Hour Famine

By Michelle Gagnon/Special to the Daily News

Posted Apr 15, 2008 @ 09:28 PM

MILFORD — The youth group of Trinity Episcopal Church gathered last week to participate in a program that raised awareness, and money, for families struggling throughout the world.

The group, comprised of 14 youth and three adult leaders, organized the 30 Hour Famine where they went 30 hours without eating. They stopped eating right after lunch on Friday, and didn't eat again until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Gathering at the church for about 24 of the 30 hours, famine coordinator Steve Ketcham helped keep everyone's minds off food by leading a series of games which were often followed by questions, then free time. The games included a version of dodge ball, an Indonesian alternative to Rock, Paper, Scissors, and a memory game. Each game was rewarded with a "survival card," the winner being decided by who had the widest array of card categories.

The youth were also divided into smaller groups, each being named after an Indonesian island. While in those groups, they also were given a disability that they would have to recreate.

One group called Madura included Veronica Lynch, Lindsay Sweet, Rebecca Cook and Shannon Hynes were in the tribe.

The Sumatra tribe included Sarah Anzalone, Sarah Hennessy, Michelle Gagnon, and Alexa Miguel. The final tribe was Java and included Rachel Metcalf, Ani Sharoogian, Jeffrey Gagnon, Camden Kennedy, and Shannon Hennessy.

During free time, everyone played games and just hung out. One group put together a 600 piece puzzle of the world, completing it just before the end of the fasting. The puzzle was left out for everyone to see after the church service Sunday.

Others enjoyed the nice weather and did some yard work for the church.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, the group broke the fast with homemade chicken soup, Ramen Noodles and sandwiches.

Through the program, the group raised over $2,000 for needy families. This money, along with money collected after church services, will go to World Vision where it will buy food and water, build houses, and provide medical care for people and children in communities all over the world.

Michelle Gagnon is a member of the youth group at Trinity Episcopal Church and participated in the 30 Hour Famine.