Half the guests at Central College’s Oxfam America Hunger Banquet will eat a meager dinner, seated on the floor. These guests represent the 50 percent of the world’s population who are born into poverty, while the other half holds middle- to high-class positions of relative prosperity. This interactive event gives guests a chance to reflect on the realities of international poverty — and to help change it.
The Oxfam Hunger Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 in Graham Conference Center’s Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall. The event is open to the public and costs $5 (Central students can attend for free). It will be a highlight of the college’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which runs Nov. 15–20 and is sponsored by the Center for Community-Based Learning.
At the banquet, guests will draw tickets to be randomly assigned a high-, middle- or low-income tier, based on the latest poverty statistics. Each tier will then receive a corresponding meal: the top 20 percent will be served a plentiful dinner; the middle 30 percent will eat a simple meal of rice and beans; and the remaining 50 percent will receive small portions of rice and water.
Throughout the meal, a master of ceremonies will guide participants through the experience. Then all guests will be invited to share their thoughts and take action to help overcome global poverty. All guests will also receive a handcrafted souvenir created by the Pella Art Center for the event.
Also, Central biology students will display their research on poverty and sustainability issues, originally presented at the Heartland Global Consortium, outside the banquet area starting at 5:30 p.m.
Guests can reserve a place at the banquet by calling 641-628-5424 or emailing Katie Zellmer at zellmerk@central.edu.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 17
- Documentary film “Inocente” in Van Emmerik Theatre, 8 p.m.
November 18
- Hunger and Homelessness Jeopardy trivia game in Maytag Student Center, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Expert panel on Hunger and Homelessness in Van Emmerik Theatre, 7 p.m.
November 19
- Hunger and Homelessness Jeopardy trivia game in Maytag Student Center, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
November 20
- Documentary film “Hunger in the Heartland” in Van Emmerik Theatre, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Poster presentation on poverty and sustainability issues outside the Oxfam Hunger Banquet in Graham Conference Center, 5:30 p.m.
- Oxfam America Hunger Banquet in Graham Conference Center, Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall, 6 p.m.
Throughout November, KNIA/KRLS will also collect food for local pantries on Central’s campus and at other community locations.
