Rockford CROP Hunger Walk breaks record on 25th anniversary

Online Staff Report

“This is the most we’ve ever raised at this point, and we are on our way to reach our $50,000 goal,” said the Rev. David Jones, chairman of the Rockford Area CROP Hunger Walk committee.

The 25th CROP Walk was Sunday, Oct. 16. Fourty-four congregations and organizations walked for Church World Service, and so far turned in $37,390 to fight world hunger, the most amount ever earned on the day of the walk, exceeding last year’s amount by $5,000.

Walkers seek sponsorship and raise money, usually bringing in proceeds the day of the walk, but there’s always one more month of frantic fund-raising (funds should be turned in by Thanksgiving).

Funds support Church World Service, an international aid organization representing Protestant and interfaith relief agencies around the world. Twenty-five percent of the money will return to Rockford for the Food Pantries’ Coalition.

An estimated 350 walkers from 44 Protestant congregations, Temple Beth-El, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Muslim Community Center, Keith Country Day, Lutheran and Rockton Hononegah high schools and Keith Country Day School, as well as U.S. Post Office employees, made this the best walk ever. The average walker raised more than $100.

Last year, the CROP Walk raised just more than $44,000, then a record.

Call the Rev. David Jones at (815)540-3703 to find out how to donate or to pick up a donation. For more details, contact Rockford Urban Ministries, a long-time sponsor of the walk, at (815) 964-7111.