18th Annual Kendall County CROP Hunger Walk

Ending local and worldwide hunger one step at a time.

That’s the theme of the 18^th annual Kendall County CROP Hunger Walk on Sept. 30.

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) hunger walks are sponsored worldwide by Church World Service, an international relief agency.

The public is invited said Kathy Davidson of Montgomery and Cindy Pittsford, Oswego, walk co-leaders.

The event will open with registration and a hot dog lunch at 1 p.m. at Oswego Presbyterian Church, 1976 Rt. 25.

At 1:30 p.m., the three-mile walk against hunger steps off on a route that loops back to the church. A water station will be available.

Dogs on leashes are welcome to join walkers.

In conjunction with the walk, a food drive will be held for the Kendall County Food Pantry. The pantry will accept donations of non-perishable food items in the church parking lot.

Davidson said the walk has set a goal of $20,000 to help stop hunger and poverty in Kendall and around the world, through self-help initiatives. 

A portion of the funds raised in Oswego will go to the Yorkville-based Kendall County Food Pantry.

Last year, about 150 Kendall County walkers raised more than $16,000 in their locally organized CROP Hunger Walk.

Since 1985, the Kendall County walk has raised $158,371 to fight hunger. A quarter of those funds were returned to the local area. In Illinois, the Kendall County walk was the 26^th highest fundraising CROP event in 2011.

According to Davidson, "On Sept. 30, we will gather with others in Kendall County to fight hunger both here and around the world.

"We need walkers and sponsors for the walk. Please contact me or a church recruiter for more details and to sign up to be a walker, a sponsor, or both. Thanks for helping feed the hungry both in Kendall County and throughout the world.

This year, Kendall County communities are among 2,000 cities and towns nationwide joining together in 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 neighbors around the world who have to walk to live -- as well as with the millions served by local food pantries, food banks, and meal sites in the U.S.  

For the 21^st year, Colonial Café & Ice Cream will give a cash donation to the Kendall CROP Walk for every walker. Additionally, Colonial will give each walker a free sundae certificate to help stop hunger after the walk.

Kendall churches participating with team recruiters are:

Montgomery--Neighborhood Church of the Brethren, Ginger Florence;

Newark--Immanuel Lutheran, Laura Devick

Oswego--Oswego Presbyterian, Kathy Davidson, Montgomery

Plainfield--Followers of Christ Lutheran, Rev. Ron Voss; Wheatland Presbyterian,Nancy Krumpolz

Yorkville--Church of the Good Shepherd, Donna Rodriguez; Kendall County Food Pantry, Mary Ellen Dempsay; Trinity Church United Methodist, Deb Croyle and Katherine Kunkel, Montgomery; Plattville United Methodist; AuSable Grove Presbyterian; Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ, June Davis.

CROP Hunger Walk is the oldest hunger-fighting fundraising event in the U.S. CWS helps people around the world have enough food to eat and clean water to drink--allowing children to have the best start at life possible.

Haiti is one part of the world where CROP Hunger Walks are making a big difference.

In the aftermath of the killer earthquake, CWS was there with much-needed emergency assistance. 

With the recovery effort in full swing, CWS is helping families and communities to rebuild homes, food supplies and livelihoods.

CROP Hunger Walks also play a role in the U.S., helping communities ravaged by floods and tornadoes to recover.

For more information about the Kendall County CROP Hunger Walk, call Davidson at 630-897-1108.

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