By ANDRIA WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
 

This year a group of Bates students are working together to organize the Awareness Week. The Multifaith Council, in collaboration with Oxfam America, a famine relief program, is sponsoring the program.

There will be many opportunities for Bates students to volunteer their time and effort to help alleviate this pressing problem.

The height of Hunger Awareness Week will be Thursday, November 13, the official Oxfam Fast for a World Harvest. Bates students have been encouraged to sign up to skip a meal this day.

For every meal not eaten at Commons the approximated money saved will be donated to Oxfam to help with relief programs around the world.

The night of the fast, there will be a Hunger Banquet from 6 -- 7 p.m. in Chase Lounge. A Hunger Banquet is a served meal which illustrates the distribution of food around the world.

In addition to the Fast and Banquet, there will be various opportunities throughout the week for students to learn more about hunger and discover other ways in which they can help.

On Monday, November 10, in Carnegie 204, form 7 -- 8 p.m., the official Oxfam video, Cultivating Opportunity: Cooperative Farming in the U.S. and Africa, will be shown. It is to be followed by a discussion with members of a farming co-operative from Aroostook County, Maine.

Tuesday will be an opportunity for hands-on service at the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

Wednesday will bring a guided meditation in preparation for the next day's fast. It will be led by Rev. Johanna Nichols.

Thursday is the fast itself.

Friday wraps up the week with a guest speaker, Kip Tiernan. Tiernan is the founder of Rosie's Place for Women and the Boston Food Bank. He will speak in the Mays Center from 4:30 -- 6:00 p.m.

The week will be closed with a Candlelight Vigil in Solidarity With the Hungry. This will take place on the steps of Hathorn from 7:00 -- 7:45 p.m.