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Hunger - or let's say "real hunger" - might be
something that kids
at Pace Academy know only from their school
books - considering that
tuition at this Buckhead private school
is $8,450 per year.
Wrong.
As the students of Pace's senior
class join Atlanta's Hunger Walk
Sundayfor the sixth year in the
row, they show that for them hunger is
more than just an academic
notion - despite all the Mercedes, Jaguars and
Porsches in Pace's
parking lot.
Ever since seventh grade, the senior class has been
raising $1,500
on each year's Hunger Walk, which is sponsored by
the Atlanta Community
Food Bank to educate people about hunger
problems and raise money to feed
the needy. The food bank
estimates that 45,000 Atlanta families live
below the poverty
level, including 80,000 children.
This year's walk - which has a
two-mile and four-mile course - is
expected to draw more than
10,000 volunteers, producing about $180,000 in
donations. That
would bring the 10-year total to more than $1
million.
Seventy-five of Pace's 100 seniors are expected to
walk.
"But for us it's not so much the money but the
participation that
counts," says Amy Dutson, 17, secretary of the
Pace student body. Also
being the president of Pace's Service
Learning Program for three years,
she oversees a variety of
community service work done by students.
The academy requires
students to complete at least 40 hours of
community work over six
years before graduation.
Activities range from working with
handicapped people at the Sheperd
Spinal Center to putting
together food baskets for low-income families
at
Thanksgiving.
For taking part in the Hunger Walk, students
receive two hours of
credit.
"You interact with a different
kind of people you'd normally not
interact with," says Amy, who
wants to become an arts therapist. "And you
realize they're all
basically the same. All children need love, attention
and role
models."
Adds Mark DiCristina, 17, student treasurer: "The basic
thing is
awareness. And most students don't stop with community
work once they
reach the 40-hour goal."
"People like to help
out. It's kind of like a chain reaction." says
Barclay Dexter,
17, who has piled up more than 400 hours of service work.
"These
activities make me feel aware of how fortunate I am. I don't
take
everything for granted anymore."
The walk always has been
the project of the Class of '94, which is
now thinking about
graduating in the spring.
"The torch needs to be passed on," says
Mark.
Through posters and lectures they try to motivate younger
students
to join the Hunger Walk and keep the tradition
alive.
Despite the volunteer projects, the sense that Pace is
different
from other schools remains clear. For example, posters
on the campus
urging the kids to join the walk read: "Come to the
class party after
Hunger Walk - enjoy food and
swimming."
Chart: STEPPING OUT FOR FOOD
The walk begins at
Georgia Power Park. Walkers under 18 must have
registration
signed by a parent or guardian. Call 892-9822 for
registration
materials and
information.
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