Date: Fri 03-Oct-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

church-CROP-walk

Full Text:

Walk With The World's Neediest Children

(with photo)

All residents are invited to participate in the local CROP Walk for the hungry

which will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, October 19, beginning in the parking lot

of Trinity Episcopal Church.

The interfaith event, held during the 50th anniversary of CROP, will take

place simultaneously in communities across the country. Each year more than

three million friends and neighbors walk or sponsor a walker to help stop

hunger around the block and around the world.

About 25 percent of the money raised locally will be used to assist food

banks, pantries and other hunger-fighting programs in Newtown.

CROP is the name given to hunger education and fundraising events sponsored by

Church World Service (CWS) and organized by 25 Church World Service/CROP

regional offices nationwide.

CWS is a ministry of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the

United States. In partnership with organizations in more than 70 countries,

CWS supports self-help development, meets emergency needs, and helps address

the root causes of poverty.

Within the United States, CSW assists communities in responding to disasters,

resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies,

provides educational resources and offers opportunities to join a

people-to-people network of local and global caring through the walks; the CWS

Blanket, Kit, and Layette Program; and the Tools of Hope Program.

CROP events make possible grassroots development initiatives in countries

around the world, helping families overcome poverty and powerlessness.

"It's very important that Americans understand the needs and opportunities

that exist around the world," said Catherine Bertini, executive director of

the World Food Program of the United Nations. "When we talk about hunger in

Asia, Africa or Latin America, we're not talking about the kind of hunger that

exists in the United States. There's still unacceptable hunger in this rich

nation, but children don't die from lack of food. Some 500 children die each

hour from lack of food in other countries.

When you walk in your community's CROP Walk, you walk with the neediest

children in the world. You help in education - children's futures - health,

safe drinking water, food production, and refugees, she said.

Local Churches Involved

The local churches that already have signed up to be involved include Christ

The King Lutheran Church, Newtown Christian Church, the Congregational Church,

United Methodist, St John's Episcopal, St Rose of Lima, and Trinity.

Walkers will begin at Trinity and take West Street to Route 302 to Boggs Hill

Road. At Head O' Meadow School, walkers will turn back and return to Trinity

Church.

Water, cider and donut holes will be provided for the walkers. The Newtown

Police will provide traffic control; Deacon Ken Stroud of St Rose will patrol

the route by car to lend other assistance.

Walkers and donors can contact any of the participating churches for pledge

envelopes and other materials. For more information, call Sue Lehmann,

459-0514, or Queta Donovan, 426-2153, two of the local organizers.