Youth raise over $3,000 for Haiti, at 2011 Dicoesan 30 Hour Famine

On the weekend of March 26th-27th, 31 youth and 14 adult chaperones gathered at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea in Narragansett to participate in the annual Diocesan 30 Hour Famine. Participants traveled from St. Paul’s Pawtucket, St. John’s Barrington, St. George’s Central Falls, and Christ Church Westerly to learn about world hunger, to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and to have some fun with Episcopalians across the state.

The 30 Hour Famine is a nationwide event coordinated by World Vision, and this year our donations will be sent to Haiti to continue to provide relief and support there. So far we know that participants raised more than $3,000.00, and we are still collecting the donations that were taken in!

A highlight of the weekend was when the Rev. Deacon Buck Close of St. George’s in Central falls visited to share his firsthand experiences of Haiti. Deacon Close founded 1000 Jobs Haiti  long before last year’s earthquake. He was in Haiti when it struck and has been back many times since with 1000 jobs, an organization that helps to create sustainable jobs at fair wages, and offers entrepreneurial assistance to Haitian artisans, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs.

The Diocesan 30 Hour Famine owes a special thank you to the community at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, for their gracious hospitality. Our Saturday Eucharist was celebrated by their Rector, the Rev. Casey Shobe. Linda O’Neill was vital in the planning and implementation of the weekend’s activities, as she is both their parish administrator and youth leader. Some St. Peter’s parishioners even came to the church at 5:00am Sunday morning to get things ready for our breaking of the fast at 6:00am!
Thank you all for your prayers and support throughout the weekend.