Hunger Banquet
Thursday, March 28
The Hunger Banquet was an opportunity for our students in grades 5-8 to learn, first-hand, about the unequal distribution of food in our world.
Each participant received a ticket placing them in various countries around the globe and received a meal corresponding to that country’s economic status. But before lunch was served, some of our participants had to switch places as their economic status changed.
Some guests were able to enjoy many servings of their favorite foods. They represented 10% of the world's population.
The middle group, representing 30% of the world's population, received a simple, nourishing lunch of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, carrots, applesauce, and milk.
The poorest group received rice and water.
Several speakers during the lunch spoke to help the students understand the focus of this activity.
Few students left the banquet with full stomachs. However, our students were dismissed at 1:15 this day and most were able to go home and have a nutritious lunch if they did not receive enough during our banquet, unlike many children in the world. All students left with a greater understanding of global hunger and poverty and the motivation to make a difference.
Hunger Facts -
1.3 billion people - about
one-quarter of the world population - live in poverty.
793 million of these people suffer from
chronic hunger.
Every 3.6 seconds, a person dies from
hunger and other preventable causes.
That's 24,000 people a day.
Our rich and bountiful planet produces
enough to feed every woman, man, and child on earth.
If food were distributed equally, every man, woman and child would
receive 2,700 calories a day, more than the minimum needed for basic survival.
