Submitted by Joanne Williams
(Photo provided: CROP walk attendees help raise funds for local food pantries.
The Charlotte Area CROP Hunger Walk is celebrating 40 years as a hunger-fighting event in Charlotte this Oct. 1 at Bennett Park.
CROP walks are worldwide events as well as community fund-raisers. In Charlotte, SIREN/Eaton Shelter, Helping Hands and St. Vincent food pantries have received tens of thousands of dollars in funding from this effort, which allows walks to keep 25 percent of its donations for local agencies.
The walk is traditionally supported and managed by area churches. Individuals, businesses, and other service organizations are also welcomed to assist. Individuals can walk, collect money to support their walk, or donate online at www.crophungerwalk.org/charlottemi.
Gresham United Methodist Church is holding a fundraising pancake breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 7-10 a.m. at the church, 5055 Mulliken Road in Charlotte. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon are on the menu.
A planning and information meeting for the October walk will be held Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Spartan Room of Charlotte Community Library. Anyone interested in helping may attend. Contact CharlotteCROP@gmail.com with any questions.
Service groups such as churches can also contribute by holding fund-raisers or involving their members. There is also a Youth Challenge in partnership with the walk that contributes an additional $125 to youth groups raising $250 or more.
Church World Service, which organizes CROP hunger walks, has broad initiatives that help people in all types of situations, from support for flood and other disasters to lack of food and water. Find out more about their work at cwsglobal.org.
