A dozen local students will go hungry for 24 hours this weekend.

They will be able to break their fast Sunday morning – unlike 805 million people in the world – but not before they raise awareness and help Warren County residents who do not have enough food.

Beginning Saturday morning, youths at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pleasant Township will participate in a program called “Act 2Day 4Tomorrow,” a day without food for a future without hunger.

Similar to 30-Hour Famine, the program has youths come together to learn about the role they can play in eradicating hunger and poverty in the world. As the group takes part in the spiritual practice of fasting, they will experience activities and times of reflection centered on seven faith practices: pray, study, worship, invite, encourage, serve and give, according to St. John’s youth volunteer Brenda Zock.

“We will also do a special service project which will help those in our community,” she said, a collection for the food bank at First Church of the Nazarene right here in Warren. This “Drive Thru Food Collection” of non-perishable food items and money will be held at St. John’s, and the youths who are participating are already complaining about having to collect food items for others when they are “starving,” Zock said, laughing.

“We are hopeful the community will show their support by stopping by St John’s on Saturday between 2 and 4:30 p.m.,” Zock said. “The gang from our 4:12 youth group will gladly unload any items you wish to donate – you don’t even have to get out of your car!”

Participants will break their fast Sunday after they prepare breakfast for the congregation prior to the morning worship service – also unfair, bemoaned one of the youths. Donations from the congregation for the breakfast will be sent to the ELCA World Hunger.

“So, as the kids learn first hand about hunger, they will be involved in two service projects involving eradicating hunger,” Zock explained, one locally and one in the world.

“We are so blessed,” Zock said. “We want to give back to the community.”

In an effort to educate the students about poverty, they will participate in a simulation applying for welfare. The 26-page application process will culminate in each participant receiving an Access card and using the money they have to purchase nourishing food for their families.

Saturday’s collection will directly benefit the food bank at First Church of the Nazarene, which is affiliated with Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie and helps more than 100 people and families a month.

Although the food bank receives approximately 5,000 pounds of food from Walmart each month, including produce, dry goods, canned food, baked goods and meat, and Lindell’s Hatch Patch contributes produce later in the growing season, the bank is always in need of items. Especially needed are cash to purchase food, canned goods, coffee and tea, hygiene items, diapers and baby wipes, toilet paper, soap, deodorant and toothpaste, according to Cathy and Jim Swanson who coordinate the food bank at First Church of the Nazarene. “A bag of groceries is as helpful as six bags,” they said.

The food bank serves individuals, the elderly and families, some two-parent households with five or six children, the Swansons said.

“We all know there are people who are hungry or having trouble,” Jim Swanson explained. “They didn’t mean to get there. It wasn’t their fault.” The Swansons explained that there are many people they serve at the food bank who held professional positions and supported their families who experienced illnesses or lost their jobs.

Those who are not able to drop off food or donations Saturday are welcome to do so between 9 and 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday at First Church of the Nazarene, 907 Pennsylvania Ave. E., Warren.