Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

church-CROP-Walk-Donovan

Full Text:

Taking To The Streets To Fight Hunger

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

When Queta Donovan accompanied her daughter, Kiquis, on a missionary trip to

India last year, she was almost overwhelmed by the human suffering that she

saw.

"You could walk into a room [at one of the homes operated by the late Mother

Teresa's Sisters of Charity] and see 70 women dying. Walk into the next room,

another 70. Then another room, another 70," she said. "You feel desperate

because you want to help them."

At the same time that she saw the suffering in India, Mrs Donovon was struck

by the efforts of churches from around the world to help.

"I was impressed and happy to see all the different churches also trying to

help in this human chaos," she said. "Every faith and creed trying to pitch

in... What a blessing! It was marvelous to be able to provide love, comfort,

understanding, some food and medication from many organizations like Church

World Service, Catholic Relief Services, CARE and many more."

Church World Service (CWS) is a ministry of the National Council of the

Churches of Christ in the United States. In partnership with indigenous

organizations in more than 70 countries, CWS supports sustainable self-help

development, meets emergency needs, and helps address the root causes of

poverty and powerlessness.

Each year CWS sponsors a CROP Walk to fight hunger. CROP is the name given to

hunger education and fund-raising events organized by 25 CWS/CROP regional

offices nationwide.

This year's CROP Walk in Newtown will be at 2 pm on Sunday, October 4,

beginning in the parking lot of Trinity Episcopal Church. The churches that

already have signed up to be involved include Christ The King Lutheran Church,

Newtown Christian Church, the Congregational Church, United Methodist, St

John's Episcopal, St Rose of Lima, and Trinity.

Every dollar raised in the CROP Walk amounts to much more when it is used in

the local economy of the countries receiving the assistance, Mrs Donovan said.

"A donation of $1 is $35 (in assistance) in India economy, almost $10 in

Mexico," Mrs Donovan said.

"You can help many children and adults -- a simple human being like you or me

-- who are breathing their last from exposure or starvation, with prolonged

illness, infected flesh, hollow cheeks like cadaverous survivors of the

concentration camps, suffering human creatures in despair, thinking that they

cannot help their family or themselves, Mrs Donovan said. "You can make a

difference in lives around the world -- a difference between life and death."

In her native Mexico, where she has also been involved in missionary work, Mrs

Donovan has seen "health problems because people live in dumps" and "the need

for safe drinking water, food production, and educational resources."

"It's very important that Americans understand the needs and opportunities

that exist around the world," said Catherine Bertini, executive director of

the World Food Program of the United Nations. "When we talk about hunger in

Asia, Africa or Latin America, we're not talking about the kind of hunger that

exists in the United States. There's still unacceptable hunger in this rich

nation, but children don't die from lack of food. Some 500 children die each

hour from lack of food in other countries.

When you walk in your community's CROP Walk, you walk with the neediest

children in the world. You help in education -- children's futures -- health,

safe drinking water, food production, and refugees, she said.

The CROP Walk will take place simultaneously in communities across the

country. Each year more than three million friends and neighbors walk or

sponsor a walker to help stop hunger around the block and around the world.

Within the United States, CWS assists communities in responding to disasters,

resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies,

provides educational resources and offers opportunities to join a

people-to-people network of local and global caring through the walks; the CWS

Blanket, Kit, and Layette Program; and the Tools of Hope Program.

About 25 percent of the money raised locally will be used to assist food

banks, pantries and other hunger-fighting programs in Newtown. Last year

approximately 100 walkers raised $3,287 through pledges, almost $500 more than

the previous year.

Walkers will begin at Trinity and take West Street to Route 302 to Boggs Hill

Road. At Head O' Meadow School, walkers will turn back and return to Trinity

Church.

Water, cider and doughnut holes will be provided. The Newtown police will

assist with traffic control and Deacon Kenneth Stroud of St Rose will patrol

the route in his car in case of an emergency.

"We invite all the town to participate by sponsoring us or sponsoring others

who will walk. Please help to end hunger locally and globally. Help our

community work together for others," Mrs Donovan said.

Walkers and donors can contact any of the participating churches for pledge

envelopes and other materials. For more information, call Sue Lehmann,

459-0514, or Mrs Donovan, 426-2153, two of the local organizers.