One Less

The FUMC Youth will be continuing their discussion of world poverty and hunger this evening (with help from youth group volunteers Alison and Jessie as I am all hopped up on cold medicine and sleep-deprived). So far, our youth have learned about wealth distribution in the world and facts about global hunger.

Tonight, they’ll be taking things a step further as they examine just how much wealth can be held in a single outfit or a weekend spent with friends. They’ll take a look at the amount of money that is spent on their clothing, food, and entertainment. They’ll be asked to look at wealth differently. You can try this at home, too. Check it out:

Get a piece of paper and pencil. Got it? Good. Now, take some time to think about the fact that having paper, pens, pencils, and the ability to read and write is a privilege that some people in this world cannot afford.

Now, take a clothing inventory. Look at the things you are wearing and write down an approximate cost. It might look something (or nothing) like this:

Pants: $40

T-shirt: $15

Sweatshirt: $18

Socks: $5

Underwear: $8

Glasses/contacts: $200

Watch: $50

Shoes: $50

Then, add up it all up. $386. What does $386 mean to a person living in a developing country? Quite a bit. Most people in developing countries live off of less that $1 per day. This one outfit could feed a person for over a year. Now, I understand that I also need to clothe and feed myself, but I think activities like these can help put a global perspective on our own lives. Being aware of what we possess can help us be better activists and peacemakers and help us more fully embrace Jesus’ message of standing in solidarity with the poor and oppressed. Through understanding where we hold our own resources and wealth, we can better understand the opportunities we have to help others.

After this activity, the youth will evaluate the other things that their (or their parents’) money is spent on. They will better understand how much money they spend each week on lunch, going out with friends, buying music, etc. At the end of the night they will take a look at their spending and where their money comes from. After taking a good look at all of these factors, the youth will choose one thing they will be willing to give up in order to save money for a few months. The money will then go help feed the hungry. They might give up one soda every week. They might ask their parents to put away $5 of their allowance each week. Whatever it is, they will be intentionally shifting their wealth and resources in ways that is beneficial to others.

What are you willing to give up?

One less cup of Starbucks each week?  You could raise about $12 a month (based off of the price of a tall latte). That could feed a person in a developing country for two weeks!

One less dinner out at a restaurant each week? At $15/per meal, that’s a savings of $60 per month.

There are many more options. Join the youth in the One Less challenge to fight hunger. Let me know at blay@fumcboulder.org if you would like to participate.
peace,

betsy