Hunger Banquet

Another useful fund/awareness-raising event recommend by Oxfam America is a Hunger Banquet.  An Oxfam America Hunger Banquet dramatizes the unequal distribution of food in the world.  The Banquet will leave many people hungry, some with just enough to eat and very few with full stomachs.  Money is raised through a standard admission charge for the event and/or by gathering donations.

Hunger Banquet participants are randomly assigned to one of three socio-economic levels that represent proportional global standards-of-living. Out of every 100 people, 15 enjoy a full-course meal complete with royal treatment, 25 sit in a simple setting and eat a meager meal (such as rice and beans), and the remaining 60 share rice, without utensils, while sitting on the floor.

Steps

• First, call Oxfam America at 800-77-OXFAM.  The Fast Team will provide you with materials and help you organize a Hunger Banquet!

• Gather interested people in your Awareness Week team to help co-coordinate the event.

• Establish a time and place.  For example, school cafeterias and student unions are ideal locations, but will require agreements with the administration and dining service.

• Invite local celebrities to the event—local media stars will generate publicity and greater public response!

• Ask local restaurants to donate food.

• Send invitations with RSVPs.  The invitations should include endorsers, special guests, and sponsors.

• Prepare the materials for the event.  These materials include fact sheets for guests (you can get information about global hunger from Oxfam America), menus, posters, a program for the event (check with Oxfam America for a suggested script), and colored or numbered tickets (15% high-income, 25% middle-income, and 60% low-income).

• Publicize!  Send out news releases and use other publicity strategies (see the publicity section in this packet) to gather as many participants as possible.

• Make sure all the food and table arrangements are in order.

• On the day of the banquet, set up the room accordingly.  Make sure the first group has an elaborate setting and service, while the third group has only the bare essentials.

• Make sure every person takes a ticket at the front door and begin!

A Hunger Banquet is a great, interactive way to generate discussion and thought about world hunger.  Distribute factual material for people to take home and share with others.

For more information about this event, please contact:

Fast Team
Oxfam America
226 Causeway Street (5th floor)
Boston, MA  02114
Fast Hotline: 
Fax: (617) 728-2594
Email: fast@oxfamamerica.org
Website: www.oxfamamerica.org