Youth Leadership at its Best

Virtue is not as easy as vice but it can be aided.

Jose Saramago, Portuguese Nobel Laurette

Teenagers are natures entrepreneurs. They have energy, creativity, initiative, tolerance, drive and a wide network of friends. When these qualities are mixed with the understanding and experience of adults the impact is unique and exciting. For the last 26 years student volunteers worked with adults for humanitarian issues locally and globally raising over $331,000. These students discovered skills, honed talents and most importantly developed drive as they addressed challenges their community and world faces. For more about their work visit http//www.peterwulffcenter.org

This time these teenages will represent youth leadership for Crop Walk. Prabhgun and Prabhjet are leaders representing The Sikh Gurdwara in Palatine. They embraced this opportunity to engage a local house of worship for a common good. Jack Weed and Krish Nara are leading the team at BMS. For the last 3 years both leaders enthusiastically embraced a variety of projects and are "hooked now" as Jack said after serving meals to ex prisoners in Chicago. for the last 3 years.

"The Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk is a community-wide event that raises needed funds to fight hunger world-wide—and right here in our communities. The 2026 Walk will be Sunday, October 11th at 1:00 pm. We will begin at Community Church of Barrington and walk through downtown Barrington; there is a 1-mile and 5-mile route.

Through the efforts of over 13,500 walkers throughout its 40-year history, the Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk has raised over $1.6 million to fight hunger, with over a $400,000 staying in our communities to provide for a better life for local families.

CROP Hunger Walks are sponsored by Church World Service (CWS) and organized by local congregations or groups. Over 2,000 communities nationwide participate in over 1,300 Walks each year. The work of CWS has expanded to help meet not only the needs of the hungry, but also the needs of the impoverished, of refugees, and of those affected by disaster nationally and internationally. CWS is a 4-star rated charity on Charity Navigator, with less than 12% of its funds used for fundraising and administration.

Twenty-five percent of funds raised stays in our area benefitting these agencies:

• Northern Illinois Food Bank • Wauconda-Island Lake Food Pantry

• FISH Food Pantry (Carpentersville) • BACOA Meals with Wheels

• Project Hope (St. Anne Catholic Church) • Barrington People-in-Need Ministerial Program
• United Partnership for a Better Community Summer Lunch Program in Wauconda

Raising awareness and providing the opportunity to fight hunger are also goals".

We hope you will join us in support of the CROP Walk. If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact me. I’m happy to provide more information and answer any questions. Kiran Frey at kiran.frey59@gmail.com