By Lisa Carolin
The purpose of the CROP Hunger Walk is to bring about hunger awareness and relief. That’s what has motivated close to 100 residents from the Chelsea and Dexter communities to participate in this year’s walk, which will take place Sunday, Oct. 6.
This will be the 26th year of the area walk.
“The walks are organized locally but run nationally by Church World Services,” said Kathie Gourlay, Chelsea/Dexter CROP Hunger Walk coordinator. “The money that is donated can be designated for any one of many international humanitarian organizations. However, 25 percent of the money that we raise remains local.”
That money will be given to Faith in Action and the rest will be given to organizations worldwide to help alleviate hunger and poverty. This year’s goal is to raise $26,000.
“Seeking to prevent hunger has always been at the heart of our mission here at Faith in Action,” said Nancy Paul, director of Faith in Action. “We will use the money to support this this and all the programs here, which include clothing, food, utility and housing support, as well as a free health clinic, crisis help, holiday sponsorship programs and back to school backpacks for school kids.”
Gourlay says there are 12 organizations participating in the local walk this year.
“They are mostly churches, but there are also two retirement communities, Silver Maples and the Chelsea Retirement Community,” said Gourlay. “If someone wants to participate but does not belong to one of the organizations, they can walk as part of the Faith in Action Team.”
“Because nearly all the churches in Chelsea and Dexter support Faith in Action, we love the way that CROP brings us all together,” said Paul.
The walk begins at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Paul United Church of Christ, and walkers will have the option of a 1 or 5-mile walk around town.
The first CROP Hunger Walk in Washtenaw County was organized by the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice in 1975 as a response by the faith community in Washtenaw County to the war in Vietnam. Members of the council began the walk because they believed that the war affected hunger and food insecurity.
It’s not too late to register for the Oct. 6 walk. Go to Faith in Action at 603 South Main St. and pick up an envelope and advertising brochure and start collecting pledges.
