The Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted the annual Fast-a-Thon in the University Student Union Ballroom Thursday to raise money for the homeless on Skid Row.
Lina Nasry, the public relations and marketing chair for MSA, said they raised more than $400, and all of the proceeds will go to “Humanitarian Day,” a non-profit organization that feeds people on Skid Row.
“Go Hungry For One Day So That Someone Else in the World Won’t Have To” was the theme of the event.
During the Fast-a-Thon, participants cannot eat or drink and must refrain from all negative thoughts and speech, as it is explained on the Muslim Student Association participant pledge form.
For some students, going out of their morning routines was a lot harder than they expected.
“We had a lot of things to do and without my water and my coffee, I was at a 10 percent productivity level,” said geography major Fern Nueno.
She and her friend Aregnaz Mooradain got up at 4 a.m. to eat and drink as much as they could before the start of the fast that began at 5:22 a.m. and ended at 6:23 p.m.
“We know there was food all around us but we know we couldn’t eat it. I have the money. I can walk and go get food, but I can’t. That was the most difficult part,” Mooradain said. “That was all part of the sacrifice.”
“In the past, student-run fast-a-thons have contributed thousands of dollars to Hurricane Katrina relief, international disasters such as the tsunami and the earthquake in Southeast Asia, and local projects including Humanitarian Day in Los Angeles, which feeds thousands of homeless on Skid Row,” Mooradain said.
Fast-a-Thon occurs once a year, but for Muslim students, these are the final days of Ramadan, as they will be involved in as much giving as possible. Fasting during Ramadan is essential during this time.
The event “…works towards breaking down stereotypes and negativity while contributing to a humanitarian cause,” according to a press release.
Ramadan is a holy time on the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims pray five times a day. During Thursday’s Fast-a-Thon, a CSULB student chanted to signify the time for the fourth prayer.
“We do it out of love for God more anything else,” Imad Baayoun, a UC Riverside professor, said.
“If it was not for God, we would not be here fasting. If it was not for God, we would not do it,” he said.
For more information about the Fast-a-Thon or MSA West, contact Marya Bangee at [email protected].