Fast for the Hungry, March 2, 2009 Helping those in need DJAMILAGROSSMAN/Standard-Examiner Alex Boren, 17, of the First United Methodist Church in Mariott-Slaterville, pulls a blanket into a shelter he made of cardboard boxes during a 40-hour fast that began on Friday. Boren and several other youngsters fast every year to remember starving people around the world, but this was the first time some of them slept outside. Teens use fast as a service project DJAMILAGROSSMAN/Standard-Examiner Haylee Perkins, 18, laughs as she holds up a bag she found while preparing food donations Saturday as part of a fast to remember those in need of food. By JaNAE FRANCIS Standard-Examiner staff jfrancis@standard.net MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE — Austin Barron's hand was shaking as he dished himself up some chicken and tater tots at 2 p.m. Saturday. "I'm a little more hungry this year," he said. "I don't know why." It was the third time the 15-year- old has participated in an annual 40- hour fast with the youth of the First United Methodist Church. He was one of a dozen teenagers who said what they did was hard but not as hard as it would be to go hungry knowing that there was no food available. "It's not hard starving," said Ra- chael Story, 17, of Harrisville. "It's harder knowing that there is food there. For them, it's harder because they don't have a choice." Standard WWW, STANDARD. NET ONLINE: Share teens' experiences The effort was part of an international observance sanctioned by World Vision, a group that helps feed the hungry by supporting agriculture and other programs for those in need. Participating groups at one of two weekends during the year raise money for the organization. It's the 14th year the First United Methodist Church has participated in the event. Most youth groups participate with 30-hour fasts, but organizers at this church 13 years ago decided to up the number of hours to 201