Hunger Banquet to Support Oxfam and St. Francis Table

On Saturday November 28th, the Toronto Zen Centre will be hosting an Oxfam Hunger Banquet from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  It will take place at the Steelworkers Union Hall at 25 Cecil Street in Toronto. 

The Hunger Banquet is an interactive opportunity for people to see first-hand the effects of poverty throughout the world. At a traditional Hunger Banquet, this is what happens: As people enter the banquet hall each person is randomly assigned a number which corresponds with being in the high, middle, or low income group. 15% of the people get a number which puts them in the high income group; these people sit at a well-appointed table and enjoy a three-course meal. 25% of the people are in the middle income group; they sit in chairs at a plain table and eat rice and beans. 60% of the attendees—the low income group—sit on the floor, and receive only rice and water. They experience the lot of the millions of people throughout the world who live in poverty.

Zen Center Hunger Banquets are run a little differently. Once everyone has arrived and been assigned to low, middle or high, there are readings which dramatize the different income levels and a presentation about world hunger and life in the country of Afghanistan. After this, everyone—no matter which group they are in—is invited to eat a full meal. Unlike in the real world, no one will go home hungry.

There will be a limited number of tickets sold for the event, as we can accommodate a maximum of 200 people. The minimum contribution is $40 per person plus a vegetarian canned or boxed food item for the food bank. All proceeds from the banquet will be donated to Oxfam’s campaign to end hunger in Afghanistan and St. Francis Table.

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