BETHEL — Local CROP (Communities Respond to Overcome Poverty) Walks help to relieve hunger here and around the world. Bethel area residents will work and walk together to raise funds and awareness to overcome poverty in a 5K (three-mile) walk around Bethel village at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, starting at the West Parish Congregational Church, Church Street.

Twenty-five percent of the funds stay locally, going to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, earmarked for Bethel and surrounding towns to use, like the District Exchange.

Church World Service partners with aid agencies around the world to provide disaster relief as well as long-term micro-loans and development projects in more than 80 countries.

Last year the Bethel Area CROP Walk raised $3,100 toward the work of Church World Service. If the amount raised this year is doubled, the Rev. Ginger Rickeman said she would dye her hair any color the children of the church wish.

The Bethel area and some 2,000 cities and towns nationwide are joining together in interfaith community walks around the theme “We walk because they walk.” Many of the CROP Walkers will be wearing “We walk because they walk” T-shirts.

For more information about the walk, contact Co-Chairwomen Christine Trefethen at treflist@megalink.net or Jane Chandler at jane.h.chandler@gmail.com.