CHAPEL HILL, NC, Thursday, April 7, 2011—As many as 200 youth will fast for 30 hours over the weekend of April 15-16 and sleep overnight in cardboard boxes in the parking lot of HillSong Church in Chapel Hill as part of a “30 Hour Famine.” Hatch, the Chapel Hill-based communications agency serving clients locally and nationwide, volunteered to help promote the event that will raise money for earthquake victims in Haiti. Other sponsors, youth (ages 11-18) participants, area churches and adult chaperones are invited.

This is the second year the event has been held at HillSong, which is located at 201 Culbreth Road, next to Southern Village. “Our large, hillside parking lot last year was a sea of cardboard boxes with 135 preteens and teenagers from nearby churches,” said Jonathan Elwing, youth pastor for HillSong. Though seven area churches from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and Pittsboro and more than 150 youth have signed up for the upcoming event, he is still recruiting adult volunteers as chaperones and more student participants. Those interested should contact Elwing via HillSong’s website.

By going without food, they get a taste of what the world’s poorest children and families face every day. Prior to the event weekend, students raise funds with the knowledge that every $30 they raise can help feed and care for a child for a month. Last year’s event raised almost $10,000 mostly through online donations. The funds were sent to Haiti to provide medical supplies, food, and care for victims still suffering from the 2010 earthquake’s devastation, and donations will be used to serve similar needs this year in Haiti.

Cathi Sander, MD, who attends HillSong and is a family physician in Chapel Hill, just returned from her second trip as a volunteer providing medical care in Haiti. “The suffering is still widespread and heartbreaking. Of the 1.5 million people made homeless by the January 2010 earthquake, 680,000 are still living in makeshift housing. Limited access to clean water and even basic necessities continues to be a problem,” she said. “Yet the people are hopeful and extremely grateful. The international attention is providing the help that will allow Haiti’s future to be much brighter than before.”

The 30 Hour Famine is led by the global humanitarian organization World Vision, but the experience varies with each location that hosts the event. Elwing explained that the participants begin fasting at 7:00 am on Friday, April 15. They will go to school as usual during the day wearing their Famine t-shirts and meet at 6:30 that night at HillSong. The evening is packed with games, fun activities and worship. On Saturday morning, they will go into the community to perform hands-on service projects and return to break their fast with a lunch provided by the Chick-fil-A at University Mall.

The organizers of the local event are using social media and word of mouth to spread the news about the Famine event. Participants are asked to help raise funds by setting up their own accounts online. Individuals can support the effort by going to the www.HillSong.org website (see Famine link that opens the HillSong Famine page).

 About HillSong Church

HillSong Church is an exciting, contemporary ministry. What makes HillSong special, however, is its caring and gracious spirit—a spirit directly attributed to Christ's presence in the church's life and people. HillSong Sunday morning services incorporate a casual style, praise and worship music, and relevant teaching. A diverse congregation, the church ministers to all ages and backgrounds but especially to families, singles, and students. Learn more at www.HillSong.org.

About Hatch

Based in Chapel Hill, Hatch is a new breed of communications company that provides consulting services to meet the evolving needs of businesses, nonprofits and other organizations. Hatch partners Tamara Baker and Lynne Smyers provide strategic communications, public relations, media relations, branding, graphic design, web design and content development, marketing, and advertising. Why Hatch? The partnership offers big agency experience without breaking the bank. For more information, visit www.hatch-consulting.com.

Contact: Tamara Baker, Hatch, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , O-919.933.7650, C-919.951.9282