Walking to end hunger … one step at a time
By Judie Holcomb-Pack
On Sunday, Oct. 21, hundreds of participants walked two miles to fight hunger in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County CROP Hunger Walk.
Begun in 1947 when farmers came together to share their crops with people in Europe who were recovering from the devastation of World War II, now CROP Walks are held nationwide to raise money to fight hunger and provide disaster aid, both in the United States and around the world.
The walk illustrates the solidarity of participants with people in Third-World countries who often have to walk many miles each day to get water or food.
Locally, money raised through CROP Walk donations is split with 25 percent staying in Forsyth County to support the food pantries of Crisis Control Ministry and Sunnyside Ministry, and 75 percent going to Church World Service (CWS) for their hunger initiatives. CWS partners with organizations in areas they serve to provide wells for clean water, tools and seeds for gardens, and clean-up kits and blankets to aid victims of disasters. They provided over 7,000 hygiene kits, school kits, blankets and clean-up buckets for the victims of the recent hurricanes that affected Eastern North Carolina.
The first Winston-Salem/Forsyth County CROP Walk was held in 1979 and since that time has raised nearly $2 million. The walk is supported primarily by area congregations. This year over 55 congregations participated in the Walk, with over 600 people walking the Long Branch Trail beginning at Bailey Park.
Gallilee Missionary Baptist Church not only participated, but has also been a sponsor for the past two years. Other supporters include Grace Presbyterian and St. Stephen’s Episcopal churches.
Carol Wilson, local CROP Walk coordinator, said, “CROP Walk is an inclusive event with a diversity of participants. There were walkers from Temple Emanuel, El Bien Pasteur, Fraternity Church of the Brethren, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Seventh-day Adventists, and others, all walking together to fight hunger.”
Carol also noted that this is also a family event.
“It is so heartwarming to see generations of families walking together, from parents pushing babies in strollers, to older people, all coming together for one cause.”
Donations are still be accepted by going to www.forsythcroupwalk.org and clicking on the Donate button.
