Staff Intern

ONEONTA — They chose not to eat to raise awareness of others around the world and in the community who do not have that choice.

Students at the Oneonta Job Corps Academy fasted during lunchtime Thursday to raise money for the Community Connections County Food Bank and Oxfam America, an international organization fighting hunger.

"We wanted to help support those who are hungry throughout the world," said Tracy Quashie, 19, president of the Student Government Association. "We can't be selfish and waste food. A lot of people are starving."

Students were asked to sign up to skip their Thursday lunch and the Academy donated money based on the cost per student per meal. Of 374 students at the center, 277 fasted, and others chose to donate money directly instead of fasting. The effort raised $782, according to Bev Hoffman, the business community liaison at the academy.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., students gathered in the auditorium to hear presentations from Oneonta food bank officials and community members, and to watch movies about world hunger.

"We organized this fast to save hungry children," said Jason Richards, 19. "I thought I had it bad, but looking at other countries, it's sad."

Christine Garcia, 20, lived in Venezuela for 2 1/2 years.

"I saw people who had big bellies, kids, with really skinny legs," Garcia said. "I used to see a lot of babies die because they didn't get proper medical care. What we're doing today makes a difference."

Andrea Silvia, 19, said she learned from a video that 17 people die from hunger every minute.

"A lot of people are hungry, and we can do something about it," she said.

"You learn to appreciate things, seeing people who don't have what you have," agreed Arnold Holton, 19.

Bev Hoffman discussed local issues.

"One-third of the people in this county live at or below the poverty level," he said. "More and more people are coming into the soup kitchens and needing food."

In addition to Thursday's fast, students have also spent time volunteering at the local soup kitchen, Hoffman said. Groups go to the food bank and Saturday's Bread about once a month.

Hoffman stressed the importance of volunteering and cited a quote from Winston Churchill: "You make a living by what you take; you make a life by what you give."