Released 27 September 2009
CROP walk battles hunger
By Matt Jachman • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER • September 24, 2009
Against a sharp increase in the number of local families seeking emergency aid, a walk to raise money, and awareness, in the fight against hunger takes on greater importance.
The annual CROP Walk for the Plymouth Canton area begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at St. John Episcopal Church on Sheldon Road. Sponsored by St. John and five other area churches, the walk raises money for the emergency food pantry at the Salvation Army's Plymouth Corps, which serves Plymouth and Plymouth and Canton townships and neighboring communities, and also for international hunger relief through the Church World Service. The local walk has a four-mile route and a two-mile route.
Laurie Aren, the Plymouth Salvation Army's director of family and community ministries, said the recession has left many more families searching for help and has demonstrated the need for fund-raisers like the CROP Walk.
“Because of the state of the economy, people are so much more aware of the need for food in their own communities,â&euroໝ Aren said.
In the local Salvation Army's most recent fiscal year, which ended in August, Aren's office issued 1,004 food packages, 365 more than in the previous year, she said. Over the same period, she said, she interviewed people from 1,275 families that were seeking assistance, compared to 953 the previous year.
“Across the board, all of our assistance this year is dramatically up,â&euroໝ she said. “We're seeing a lot of new folks that in years past would be donating to the Salvation Army.â&euroໝ
Some 90 CROP walkers last year raised about $9,271, according to Barb Fichtenburg of Geneva Presbyterian Church in Canton, the event's chairwoman. The goal this year is 100 walkers and $12,000, Fichtenburg said.
In addition to benefiting the local Salvation Army's food pantry and Church World Service, walkers can pick from a list of aid organizations they'd like to support. Walkers solicit donations from family members and friends.
This fall marks the 40th year for the nationwide CROP Walks, in which about 2,000 communities participate. The acronym stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.
St. John Episcopal Church is at 574 South Sheldon. Walkers can register beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday; the walk begins at approximately 2:10 p.m. after a 2 p.m. prayer and directions. For more information, call Barb Fichtenberg at (734) 981-4205.