CROP Walk Set For May 2

The annual Newtown CROP Walk will be held Sunday, May 2, beginning at the flagpole at 2 pm.

The five-mile walk, following a course from the steps of Trinity Church to Head O’ Meadow School and back again, is a major fundraising project of local churches working together to combat world hunger and to support local food pantry programs.

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

The CROP Walk has a long history in Newtown. Recently the local event received the Golden Sneaker Award from the tri-state office of Church World Service for having the greatest percentage of growth in walkers participating and in funds raised. More than $5,600 was raised by last year’s Crop Walk, 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.

Sponsorship forms and walker materials can be obtained from any of the participating churches. On-site registration is also possible on the steps of the Trinity Church, starting at 1:45 pm on May 2.

The CROP Walk is held rain or shine on its appointed day. There is no set time frame for the walk. Participants on roller blades, with strollers, walking pets and/or jogging have been noted in the past years. According to the organizers, the bottom line is that the CROP Walk is a great activity for a special cause –– and everyone is invited to be a part of it.

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

People from all of the Newtown churches as well as from the wider community annually participate in this special charitable event.