Participate in Fast-a-thon to raise money for needy

You’ve donated money to the needy before, right? Surely
you can recall dropping money into a tin can held by the guy
wearing a Santa Claus outfit during the holiday season. But have
you ever given up food so that a needy person can eat?

As you may know, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has already
begun. To pick up a newspaper and find an article written on
Ramadan is not that unusual anymore. You probably know Muslims
abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for 30 days.
However, how many times have you picked up the Daily Bruin and read
about why you should fast? Well, you are about to find out how you
can give up food and drink for one day to help out the hungry in
your local L.A. community.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Muslim Students’ Association-UCLA
is holding its first Fast-a-thon geared toward students of all
faiths. The idea is for you to give up food and drink for one day,
from sunrise to sunset. Local businesses will be donating $1 per
person who fasts to the “Humanitarian Day: Health Fair for
the Homeless” hot meals program. You’ll be giving up
food for only one day so that someone else won’t have to.

Here are three reasons why a student, like yourself, should be
fasting this Thursday. For one, it is a good way to help someone
less fortunate than you. According to the L.A. County Department of
Health Services, 584,000 L.A. County residents experience hunger
every year; that’s one out of every 17 people.

If you fast, you will be helping people through direct action as
opposed to just donating some money into a tin can. While you are
hungry for 12 hours, someone who is hungry on a daily basis will be
able to have a meal. Second, you will learn a little bit about what
it feels like to be under-privileged. For only 12 hours,
you’ll feel the hunger pains that some people feel every day.
After you break your fast, you will learn to appreciate what most
of you have been lucky enough to have all your life … food!

And finally, this fast will teach you how to discipline yourself
from overindulgence, and you’ll discover just how much will
power you really do have. So walk over to Kerckhoff 146, pick up a
pledge form, try something new and fast!

Fasting begins at sunrise 4:52 a.m. and ends at sunset 4:56
p.m. Join all Fast-a-thon participants for breaking fast and free
dinner in Kerckhoff Grand Salon. For more info contact
[email protected].