Anti-Hunger Fundraiser—

About 50 Walkers Participate in CROP Walk

By Andrew Gorosko

Dressed for intermittent showers and shod in sneakers, about 50 walkers covered a five-mile course on Sunday May 2 as part of CROP Walk, a fundraising project of local churches cooperating to combat world hunger and support local food pantry programs.

Walkers gathered at 2 pm at the main entrance to Trinity Episcopal Church, near the Main Street flagpole. From the church, they followed a course down West Street, across Sugar Street, and then along Boggs Hill Road to Head O’ Meadow School. On reaching the elementary school, the walkers turned around and followed the course back to Trinity Episcopal Church.

The walkers kept a brisk pace during the event, making sure to walk along the left side of the road, so that they would be facing oncoming traffic in areas where there are no sidewalks.

As of early this week, the fundraising project received $4,558 in pledged donations. Those who walked, and others who collected pledges, will have until next week to submit their pledge amounts.

Proceeds from the sponsorship of the CROP walkers will be divided among the national CROP Walk program, administered by the Church World Service, and local food banks.

Last year’s CROP Walk raised more than $5,600, of which $1,300 was returned to the Newtown area for local hunger programs. The local funds for 2003 were donated to the FAITH Food Pantry in Sandy Hook, and to the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury.

Each participating church has a CROP Walk coordinator. Serving as officers for the 2004 CROP Walk were the Rev Greg Wismar from Christ the King as chairman, and Carol Foss from the Newtown Congregational Church as treasurer.

Church World Service, which sponsors the CROP Walk, is a ministry of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States. In partnership with organizations in more than 70 countries, Church World Service supports sustainable self-help development, meets emergency needs, and helps address the root causes of poverty and powerlessness.

Within the United States, Church World Service 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.