Monroe CROP Walk will stride forward on Oct. 24

Monroe - Organized locally, the Monroe CROP Hunger Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24, and has set a goal of 125 walkers and hopes to raise $14,000 to help stop hunger and poverty here in our community and around the world, through self-help initiatives. A portion of the funds raised here in Monroe will go to the food pantries of Monroe, Woodbury, Chester and Washingtonville. Last year, approximately 110 walkers raised over $12,000 in the CROP Hunger Walk. This year Monroe and some 2,000 cities and towns nationwide are joining together in interfaith community CROP Hunger Walks around the theme “We walk because they walk.” Some of the CROP Walkers will be wearing “We walk because they walk” 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 here in the U.S. These local ministries share in the funds raised by CROP Hunger Walks. In January 2010, an earthquake devastated parts of Haiti. Church World Service was there immediately assisting survivors, first as part of the emergency response effort, and now supporting long-term recovery and reconstruction. Your steps in the CROP Hunger Walk are helping them make a difference in Haiti — and around the world. “We are just a few of the two million CROP Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors that take some time to help end hunger and poverty around the world. It’s a good feeling to be part of something so large and so positive in our world,” stated Monroe CROP Walk Coordinator, Fred Schuepfer. Essential information CROP means “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.” The Monroe CROP Hunger Walk will be held Sunday, Oct. 24. For more information, call walk coordinator Fred Schuepfer at 782-8386.