A gathering of experts and concerned persons will take part in a panel discussion tomorrow in an effort to increase awareness about the problems of hunger and poverty.

The third annual World Food Day Teleconference will be held at the Holmes Student Center tomorrow in Room 405 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Panelists from developed and developing countries will discuss the theme “Poverty, Hunger and Interdependence” as related to their regional and personal experiences.

Sondra King, Human and Family Resources professor, said, “The purpose of the conference is not to raise funds, and it is not a celebration.”

“It is an attempt to look for solutions to problems that face Third World Countries,” she said.

Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr, a panelist, also will be present to discuss the farm crisis in the United States.

At noon the forum will switch over to representatives from various DeKalb organizations who will talk about poverty and hunger problems in the immediate area.

The conference also will kick off the annual DeKalb Crop Walk on Sunday. It is a 10 kilometer walk to raise money to combat world hunger.

Crop Walk Chairman Carrol Varner said, “Many residents are unaware of the great extent of the hunger problem in the DeKalb area.”

The teleconference is open to the public and will be broadcast live throughout the area.

The event is co-sponsored by the NIU HFR department, the DeKalb chapter of Bread for the World and the Wesley Foundation.

Bread for the World is a citizens group which addresses the issue of world hunger from a political standpoint.