The CROP Walk Committee is pleased to announce a total of $7,956.00 was received in this year’s CROP Hunger Walk to fight hunger in Tioga County and around the world. There were 16 community or church groups participating in the walk with a count of at least 135 walkers, including the mayor of Owego Kevin Millar. Totals for both money raised and number of walkers were higher this year than last.
A CROP Hunger Walk is fun, but it is also an opportunity to learn what millions of people have to do each day just to survive. They walk for food, for water, for medical attention, to get to school, and other needs.
The local CROP committee thanks all who helped make a difference in the county and around the world, helping to strengthen the hunger-related programs of the ecumenical Church World Service organization. Locally, 25 percent of the total raised will be shared by seven local food agencies including the ACT dinner, Tioga Food Pantry with Catholic Charities, Lounsberry Food Pantry, Open Door Mission, Spencer-Van Etten Food Pantry, Bread of Life Pantry in Candor, and Tioga County Rural Ministry.
This year’s walk also included the opportunity to take part in Bread for the World’s annual Offering of Letters to Congress relating to national or international legislation to overcome hunger and poverty. This year’s theme, “Feed Our Children,” allowed walkers to sign letters to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer urging funding for WIC, school meals, and other child nutrition programs.
The walk ended at the First Presbyterian Union Church where the walkers were greeted with crockpots full of chili, a variety of soups, sandwiches, cookies and drinks. Look for the date of their next walk this coming year. When you walk in a CROP hunger Walk, you join a growing movement: Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.
