Background and Need Served:

CROP Hunger Walks are ecumenical, interfaith community events. CROP stands for “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.” Walkers raise funds to help those who are hungry. Seventy-five percent of these funds help support worldwide hunger relief programs; and walkers and supporters can choose from a number of international hunger-fighting agencies; undesignated funds help support the international programs of Church World Service. Twenty-five percent of the funds raised by the Washtenaw County CROP Walk are assigned by grants to local agencies to help people who are hungry in our area. From the 2007 CROP Walk funds raised the following agencies will receive grants: Aid in Milan, Brown Chapel A.M.E. Good Samaritan Feeding Program, Community Action Network, Emmanuel House, St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program, SOS Community Services and Packard Community Clinic.

The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice in Ann Arbor organizes the annual fall walk, it is often held during the afternoon of the first Sunday in October. Various community churches help host the walk on a rotating basis. Walkers can choose between two walk lengths – 2K or 10K with water/rest stops along the way. Walkers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the walk, these are then distributed to people in need by a local program. More information is available at the Church World Service website:http://www.churchworldservice.org

Outreach Project Purpose:

FUMC walkers and supporters raise funds to help those who are hungry in our community and around the world. 2007 preliminary statistics indicate that FUMC had 41 adult and 27 children and youth walkers who raised over $7,426 for hunger relief.

Current Walk Recruiters:

• Melanie Snook
• Barb Higdon
• Lynn Palacios

Estimated Project Costs

None: No funds are required to have people walk. Walkers are encouraged to raise funds by asking people to support their walking. Walkers can sign up to collect funds via the web too.

Volunteer Needs

• Walker recruiting: Encourage as many people as possible to walk. Projected Timing: Sept –Walk
• Walkers: Gather pledges, walk, and collect pledges. Projected Timing: October

Note: Volunteer walker recruiters – In 2007 we had two recruiters for the general congregation, one for youth walkers. In 2007 FUMC’s youth hosted the walk at our church. All walkers are volunteers in support of the walk.

Date prepared: October 26, 2007
By: Lynn Palacios (769-0392, palaca2@aol.com ) & Melanie Snook (761-2945, mssnook61@yahoo.com)