Fast for a World Harvest

Oxfam supporters have a long history of working for change. On the Thursday before Thanksgiving 1974, 250,000 people nationwide participated in the first Oxfam America Fast for a World Harvest; they fasted for the day or a meal, donating their food money to Oxfam. So began a national movement to alleviate global poverty and hunger.

More than just a means of addressing hunger issues, the Fast has come to symbolize the grassroots nature of working together for change. And there are many ways to help.

We are grateful to our sponsors who continue to support the Fast each year, and share Oxfam's vision for a world without hunger and poverty.

Get started

Participation in the Fast—including hosting your own Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® event—is free and easy. Just sign up and download our free kit and other useful organizing tools, which we update regularly.

Check out our interactive hunger and poverty learning experience, A Seat at the Table for a more in-depth look at the connections between hunger and poverty—some of which might surprise you!

Contact us

We're always here to help with your Fast event planning.

(800) 597-FAST | fast@oxfamamerica.org

Where to send donations

Please send your Fast donations to:

Oxfam America
Attn: Fast Team
226 Causeway St., 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02114-2206

In 1970, a group of volunteers founded Oxfam America in response to the humanitarian crisis created by the fight for independence in Bangladesh. On the Thursday before Thanksgiving 1974, something quite remarkable happened. Responding to Oxfam’s call, 250,000 people nationwide participated in the first Oxfam America Fast for a World Harvest; they fasted for the day or for a meal, donating their food money to Oxfam. So began a national movement to alleviate hunger and poverty in our world.

THANK YOU, FAST SUPPORTERS, FOR 35 REMARKABLE YEARS OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT!

What is Oxfam's Fast?

More than just a means of addressing hunger issues, the Fast has come to symbolize the grassroots nature of working with Oxfam America. Involvement with the Fast is about working together to end global poverty. Each year Oxfam supports thousands of organizations and individuals who organize Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® events and other signature Fast events.

You may choose one of these events or create your own. To date, Fast organizers have raised more than $10 million for Oxfam America's efforts to fight poverty. More important, over the years, Fast events and the opportunity to join Oxfam’s community have touched the lives of countless people, raising critical awareness about world poverty and hunger.

By joining the Fast for a World Harvest, you not only have a chance to learn more about poverty and hunger and raise money for Oxfam; you also have a unique opportunity to join a community of like-minded people working together toward a common goal.

Who can be a part of Oxfam's Fast?

You. Year after year, Oxfam's effectiveness depends on people like you—on campuses, in communities; civic associations, churches, synagogues, mosques, schools; in cities and in rural areas—contributing to the fight against poverty. These battles are often waged in humble settings, like parish basements and community centers, yet their collective impact is enormous.

Whatever draws you to working with Oxfam—from hunger issues to humanitarian relief to human rights—you will recognize the significance of the Fast: it's about joining Oxfam's global community through whatever means and rolling up your sleeves.

Unique and memorable, an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® event allows organizers and participants alike to experience firsthand how our decisions affect others in the world

An Oxfam America Hunger Banquet event provides opportunities to educate your school, your group, or the public on hunger issues; raise funds to support Oxfam's poverty-fighting work; and recruit new volunteers for your Oxfam group.

How it works

Guests draw tickets at random that assign them each to either a high-, middle-, or low-income tier and receive a corresponding meal. The 15 percent in the high-income tier are served a sumptuous meal. The 35 percent in the middle-income section eat a simple meal of rice and beans. The 50 percent in the low-income tier help themselves to small portions of rice and water. (High-, middle-, and low-income statistics used in the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet event are based on the World Bank Development Indicators 2007.) Guests can also assume characterizations that describe the situation of a specific person at the income level to which they've been assigned. Finally, all guests are invited to share their thoughts after the meal.

After an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet event, few participants leave with full stomachs, but all possess a greater understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and will hopefully be motivated to do something about them.

Details on how to plan an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet event can be found in our "Oxfam America Hunger Banquet and Fast Sourcebook."

A Seat at the Table

Check out our interactive educational experience, A Seat at the Table, for more details about the connections between hunger and poverty.

At the core of the Oxfam community are the individuals who participate in our annual Fast for a World Harvest. For more than 30 years, the Fast has brought together individuals, families, students, faith-based groups, and others to increase awareness of global hunger and poverty and to raise money for Oxfam. There are many different types of Fast events. In addition to our most popular event—the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® event—you might consider the following:

Skip a meal for Oxfam

Carry out the Fast tradition in the simplest of forms by joining the thousands who skip a meal the Thursday before Thanksgiving (or another day). Contribute the money saved to Oxfam's fight against hunger. Or take your efforts to work! You can organize co-workers to skip lunch or work with your human resources department to create a companywide event.

Dining Hall Fast

Many university and school dining services will agree to let students skip a meal and donate a portion of the money to Oxfam America's anti-poverty work. Details on how to plan a Dining Hall Fast can be found in our "Oxfam Hunger Banquet Event and Fast Sourcebook."

Other ideas?

• Educate others by writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed piece about poverty and hunger for your local newspaper.
• Reach out to members of your faith community. At your church, mosque, or synagogue, organize an educational event or a special collection to benefit Oxfam's work.
• Get friends and family to pledge money for Oxfam for every mile that you walk, lap that you swim, or mile that you bike.
• Organize a benefit event. A benefit can take many forms, including an auction, a dance or concert, or an athletic event.
• Check out more inspiring ideas to help you organize your Fast event.

Even more ideas for events can be found in our Oxfam Hunger Banquet and Fast Sourcebook.

Register today and download free tools and resources to make your Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® event or other Fast event a success!