Christian Climbers reach the pinnacle of Lenten giving

The Christian Climbers of St. Clement's parish brought global hunger awareness to new heights in Saratoga Springs recently.

Although the 30-hour famine experienced by the parish youth group was a scaled-down version of the starvation and malnutrition that claim the lives of 35,000 children around the world each day, participants insisted they will never take edibles of any kind for granted again.

Going without solid food from 3 p.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday, the 25 teenaged Christian Climbers and their seven adult leaders soon noticed pangs of hunger aggravating their growling stomachs. Many also complained of feeling light-headed and devoid of energy. (The only nourishment allowed during the 30-hour famine was water and juice. A few students requested, and received, aspirins to combat their hunger-induced headaches.)

Learning about hunger

"The kids went from door-to-door in the cold and pouring rain to collect these goods early this morning," explained Ann Sheldon, one of the adult leaders who escorted the teens through nearby housing developments. "It was sort of like trick-or-treating," she said, but with a humanitarian twist.

Ms. Sheldon and leaders Christopher Cook, Chuck Lobosco, John Chiumento, and Diane and Bob Loviza said residents of Saratoga's east side responded generously to the appeal for donations to a local food pantry.

One group of students opted to go the Saratoga Springs City Center to help out with a soup kitchen that was in progress. The aroma of simmering broth and freshly baked bread made their hunger seem all the more acute, most agreed.

'Jesus experience'

"We talked about Jesus fasting in the wilderness; Jesus feeding the hungry; Jesus as food in the form of the Eucharist; and Jesus asking us to live out the teachings of the Gospel by feeding one another," explained Mrs. Chiumento.

The Christian Climbers also attended the Stations of the Cross before returning to the parish center for an overnight stay.

Sensitized

Her friend Nicole Squadere agreed. "It makes you realize what truly hungry people are going through," she said. "The longest I ever went without eating before was four or five hours. Going 24 hours and having another six to go is hard, but at least I know there will be food waiting when the 30 hours are over. A lot of people aren't that lucky."

Kristen Natale, who like Laura and Nicole is in grade nine, vowed she would never again take food for granted. "Eating is looked upon more or less as a convenience for a lot of people," she explained. "But when you get really hungry, you start to realize how much your body needs it. Your stomach reacts negatively by growling, and you get light-headed and don't have any energy at all."

Like Jesus

Asked what he'd like to chow down on when the fast was over, Chris responded: "Anything that looks like food."

When the same question was posed of a group in another room, leader Diane Loviza quipped: "Those cans look pretty good right about now."

'I'm lucky'

"I'm lucky because my hunger experience will be ending in a few more hours," she said. "A headache is nothing when you think about all those children who are dying of starvation and malnutrition. Thinking about them and their suffering is what keeps me going."

Senior Colin Klepetar said the worst part of the fasting for him was "the extreme fatigue."

Courtney Jablonski, a sophomore who gave up a weekend trip to New York City to participate in the 30-hour famine, said the experience had been "a real eye-opener" for her.

"People have to go through this day after day with no hope in sight," she noted. "I can't even imagine the pain they must be experiencing. I'm lucky because I know my hunger will end in a few more hours."

(03-20-97)

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