Lincoln-Way area CROP Hunger Walk

Lincoln-Way area CROP Hunger Walk to be held on Oct. 14th in Mokena

When most southwest suburban families think about hunger, it’s in the context of grabbing some fast food or a piece of fruit to hold them over until the next meal. Some may think of starving children in Africa. But most have never known the worry of having to skip a meal or not knowing where their next meal is coming from.

Yet even in the Chicago suburbs, hunger is more of a problem than most people might think. Because of this, several Lincoln-Way area groups are banding together via an organization named CROP to raise money and awareness about modern-day hunger.

This year, participants from Mokena, Frankfort and New Lenox, along with others in some 2,000 cities and towns nationwide, are joining the interfaith community CROP Hunger Walks around the theme "Ending hunger one step at a time." Many of the CROP Walkers will be wearing T-shirts, proclaiming their solidarity with the millions of people around the world who don’t have the luxury or means to get food from the local grocery store or even a food pantry.

Last year, 85 Lincoln-Way CROP Walkers raised more than $6,200 in their locally organized CROP Hunger Walk. This year’s goal is $10,000. Twenty five percent of the money raised by this year’s CROP walk will be shared by local food pantries in Frankfort and New Lenox. The other 75 percent will be distributed by Church World Services to villages and cities across this nation and around the world where natural disasters such as hurricanes, drought or flooding have caused interruptions in local food supplies. Some 97 percent of CROP Hunger Walk monies are distributed to those who actually need food or resources to keep from going hungry.

This year’s local walk is planned for Oct. 14, 2-4 pm, starting from St. John’s United Church of Christ on Second Street in Mokena. The event is open to adults and children of all ages. The nearly three-mile walk will take place on public sidewalks through the neighborhood nearby St. John’s. The event will take place, rain or shine.

For more information, or to obtain a fund-raising packet for the Lincoln-Way area CROP Hunger Walk, please call St. John’s UCC at 708-479-5123 during regular business hours. Your message will be forwarded to walk organizers in your area, who in turn will provide you with any further information or pledge materials you need.