BETHEL — The CROP walk is just around the corner. What started in 2006 has blossomed over 15 years. The CROP walk is a three-mile walk to raise money to fight hunger. Money is raised through donations or by pledging someone who is walking. Anyone can donate. All of the churches in the region are participating. The Bethel Food Pantry is working in conjunction with the Backpack Program to help fight hunger.

The Backpack Program is a weekend program in Bethel that gives food to children outside of school to help them get through the weekend. It works with The Bethel Food Pantry, a nonprofit group which, according to Director Dave Bean, serves an average of 70-90 families every two weeks.

Twenty-five percent of the money raised will be going locally to Bethel’s Food Pantry, and the other 75 percent will be going to the Church World service, which will donate the money to get food and fresh water for those who need it as well as for relief in Haiti.

We will gather on the lawn next to the West Parish Congregational Church at 32 Church St., Bethel, Sunday, Sept. 19. Bring your own lunch (COVID protocols).

We will start to gather at noon and enjoy lunch and have a brief introduction and then start on our way at 12:30 p.m.