Throughout the country, hundreds of thousands of teens will go hungry during the World Vision 30 Hour Famine, and this year part of the funds will go toward Haiti’s long-term recovery.

On Feb. 26-27, American teens will participate in the famine, not eating for 30 hours and getting a taste of what the world’s poorest children face. During that time, the teens drink only water and juice and participate in community service events.

Since 1992, students have raised more than $130 million worldwide. In 2009, 30-Hour Famine raised close to $11 million. This year’s goal is to raise $12 million. World Vision works in nearly 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people.

The money goes to children and families in Haiti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Sudan, Mauritania, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other targeted spots where famine, conflict and other crises make children vulnerable.

World Vision has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years. This year, in addition to addressing immediate relief needs, 30-Hour Famine funds will be spent on long-term needs in Haiti such as food rations to children and mothers and HIV-positive adults, fruit trees, small-scale drip irrigation, guinea fowl and pigs, construction of eight new clinics (serving 55,000) and a new pharmacy, immunizations and more.

Visit www.30hourfamine.org or call (800) 7-FAMINE for more information.