St. Theresa Catholic School Goes Hungry on World Food Day

Photo courtesy Macarena Rivero Janninck

Release, St. Theresa Catholic School:

St. Theresa students close to doubled Cross Catholic Outreach’s fund raising record collecting enough to provide 15,327 life-saving meals to poor children around the world.

The Initial Goal

Initially, the goal was small. “We just wanted to raise $300 dollars” shares Julia Varblow, Student Council Vice President. We did not know that we could do so much. We are close to doubling Cross Catholic’s fundraising record.”

At the beginning of the school year, when it came time to select a charity project for the year, St. Theresa’s School Council chose to help support Cross Catholic Outreach’s efforts to provide meals, education, water, and healthcare to impoverished children around the world. St. Theresa students were moved after hearing about a young child being helped by Cross Catholic Outreach that had eight pounds of stones removed from her stomach. When the child was asked why she ate the stones, she said that it helped the hunger pain go away.

“We did not know that a child dies of starvation every six seconds, that 14,000 children die due to lack of food every day, 5.5 million kids die per year. Yet, I have food available every day. I don’t even know how many snacks I have a day! I just have to say ‘Mom, I am hungry’ and food appears . . . no matter where I am”. Said Nick Romano, Student Council President: “God has created everyone equal. God provides for all of us, it’s up to us to make sure that food is shared fairly among all of us.”

The Student Council found an ally in their principal, Mrs. Carol Krichbaum. Together, they decided to raise the stakes, setting a hefty goal of raising $500 dollars instead of just $300. To help raise awareness, Mrs. Krichbaum offered to participate in an ice water bucket challenge, similar to the ALS challenge. If the children were able reach their goal, Mrs. Krichbaum would get soaked. And, reach this goal they did, collecting $750 in three days.

The video of the ice-bucket challenge went viral, currently being shared with Catholic schools and universities around the world. “We know that we can’t fix this problem in one day,” explains Julia Varblow, Student Council Vice-President. “It’s about raising awareness so other people decide to join in and do their little part. You can change the way the world is running. It’s about people knowing that no matter how small your contribution is, it helps! Even five cents can help. The more people that know [how big this problem is], more people can do something to change it.”

Raising The Stakes Again

Feeling energized after the Ice Bucket success, the eleven-member Student Council wanted to do even more. As World Food Day was quickly approaching on October 16th, they decided to commemorate by doing something unique. They decided to go hungry, just like poor kids in developing world do every In an attempt to understand how it feels to go hungry, what it’s like not to be able to fulfill your most basic nutritional needs, students voluntarily decided to forego their typical lunches, instead choosing to have a meal that closely resembled what a typical child in a developing world would eat: a bowl of rice and water. Cross Catholic Outreach, after learning about the plans, provided packages of VITAFOOD (the food substance of the International Food Program) for students to taste. Chin-Chin Café in Ashburn offered to provide enough rice to feed the entire school, over 550 students and staff.

Going Hungry For a Day

The day’s events began with a moving prayer service planned by the Student Council and attended by the entire student body, faculty and staff. Every aspect of the service was planned by the students. They read a passage from the Bible, Matthew 25:35. The Student Council read five facts about world hunger and five promises. As each fact and promise was being read, one of the council members came across the stage holding a candle and walking into the middle of the auditorium forming a circle of world unity.

At lunch-time, children filed in a single line waiting to be served. Every effort was made to keep the event as authentic as possible. A tent was set up in the cafeteria and Student Council members ladled out the food, which consisted of a bowl of rice and a cup of water. Everyone sat on the floor. Middle school kids were able to taste VITAFOOD if desired.

While this program was organized by and geared to Middle School students, younger children in the Elementary School were also able to participate. Children in grades K through 3rd received a bowl of rice along with their regular lunches. Children in grades 4th and 5th grades had the option to participate and forego their regular lunches as long as they had parental permission.

Lasting Results

In total, close to $4,000 has been raised, almost doubling Cross Catholic Outreach’s fundraising record. This will provide approximately 15,327 life-saving meals to poor children around the world.

“This is a remarkable effort. We are extremely proud of our children,” shared Mrs. Carol Krichbaum, St. Theresa’s Principal. “Our Student Council was able to organize themselves, put together a moving prayer service, and touch the lives of so many here in Ashburn and abroad.” What we are most proud about is that this event shows us that as a school, a church, a community, we are doing the right thing raising them to have a strong Catholic moral compass.

“St. Theresa families have been incredibly generous, giving from the heart. Along with a $0.90 donation, we received a note from a child explaining that she donated her tooth fairy money understanding that the donation could buy about three meals for a poor child. Reading that note made us realize that this young child’s heart was touch by the Holy Spirit. That child is growing up understanding Catholic Social justice, knowing that no matter how huge and insurmountable a problem might seem, working together we can make a difference.”

“Although a one-day event might not fix everything that is wrong with the world, we know that as adults, our students will grow to care, and serve, and follow their Catholic faith. We know that our children are practicing the Catholic values which they have learned in their homes. Above all, it’s about knowing that as Catholics, we have a responsibility to try to improve the human condition for all,” added Mrs. Krichbaum.

Nick Romano, President of the Student Council, summed it up best by saying “if not us, then who?”