CROP Hunger Walk planned Sunday

By Linda Linonis | October 9, 2015 at 12:02a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

YOUNGSTOWN

A tradition since the 1980s in the Mahoning Valley, the CROP Hunger Walk, is planned Sunday by Mahoning Valley Assocation of Churches. “Ending Hunger One Step at a Time” is the theme and goal.

The fundraiser is the oldest charity walk in the United States. The CROP Hunger Walk is a project of Church World Service, which was organized by 17 denominations in 1946 to relieve hunger in Europe after World War II. The next year, CWS, Lutheran World Relief and National Catholic Welfare Program created a joint community hunger appeal, the Christian Rural Overseas Program — CROP. Though the program has changed, the name remained.

In 2013, MVAC’s CROP walk broke a record by raising $13,570. Annually, about 1,300 walks involving about 120,000 people raise some $12 million. About 20 churches with about 300 people will participate, said the Rev. Nora Smith, chairwoman.

Before the walk, event packets may be picked up at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., and First United Methodist Church, 22 N. Market St., Girard.

The day of the event, walkers also may register at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the walk will start at 2. A short route is around Wick Park while a longer one, for which a map will be provided, is in neighboring streets.

Fellowship time follows at the Unitarian church. Participating churches are asked to bring a snack.

The Rev. Robin Woodberry, executive director of MVAC, said proceeds from the walk benefit people in need on global and local levels. “Money goes to help feed the hungry through Church World Service,” she said.

“Locally, 25 percent of funds are kept and are donated to Protestant Family Service, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown and Fish Samaritan. “It reaches into the lives of people in the Valley.”

The Rev. Mrs. Woodberry said the CROP Walk provides three opportunities to participants. “It’s a humanitarian effort for a common good, it is a time of fellowship among people of different faiths and it’s friendly competition,” she said.

For information, call the Rev. Mrs. Smith, 330-647-9138.