Exeter, NH (October 10, 2006)—In an effort to raise awareness of the perennial problem of hunger throughout the world, the Exeter Social Service Organization (ESSO), has organized a variety of community service activities for Parents’ Weekend.

Students, parents, faculty and staff are invited to participate in five separate service initiatives:

• Fast-a-thon for Ramadan, sponsored by the Muslim Students Association, this activity will honor the end of the Muslim holiday on October 19, asking participants to eat before dawn and after sundown for spiritual reasons and to foster self-restraint and build empathy for people who are in need. Donations will be accepted in front of the dining halls.

• Student and Faculty Art Auction, sponsored by the Art Club on October 20, 21 and 22, will be held in the Stuckey Room in Phillips Church on Tan Lane in Exeter. This year’s silent auction of a variety of pieces donated by students, faculty and staff hopes to build upon the success of last year’s auction.

• Empty Bowls, handmade ceramic soup bowls donated by Ceramics students and other PEA community members, will be on sale in the dining halls for $5-$15 on October 20. Both dining halls will serve soup in the bowls from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All proceeds will go to Crossroads House.
 
• CROP walk, PEA’s involvement sponsored by The Christian Fellowship on October 22, participants can walk a circular one- or five-mile course beginning at Christ Church on Pine Street at 1:00 p.m. Monies raised by the CROP walk will be given 25 percent to local hunger relief organizations and 75 percent for world hunger relief.

• Food Drive, sponsored by the ESSO Food Pantry and Labels are for Jars Clubs. Boxes for non-perishable food donations will be stationed in the Phelps Academy Center and Phillips Church from October 19-25.

Proceeds raised over the weekend by PEA will be split between St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Exeter and Crossroads House, a local homeless shelter in Portsmouth, NH. PEA students volunteer at both organizations for community service. For more information, contact Community Service Coordinator Laurie Loosigian at (603) 777-3584. For directions to Phillips Exeter Academy, call (603) 777-4330. A complete list of upcoming events is available on the Phillips Exeter Academy public events line at (603) 777-4309 and on our website at www.exeter.edu. To learn more about upcoming events at Exeter, check the News & Events section of the website.

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory school that was founded in 1781 and originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of its charter to foster both goodness and knowledge, students come from a wide variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. The diverse student body comes from approximately 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 26 foreign countries.

Interested in learning more?

Read about hunger relief in New Hampshire

Learn more about community service at Phillips Exeter Academy

Consult the Parents' Weekend planning document for helpful information on topics such as how to make an appointment with faculty members and where to park your car

See the Program of Events for a list of Parents' Weekend activities

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