BETHEL — The 16th Annual Bethel Area CROP Hunger Walk will be Sunday, September 19. Due to Covid, there will be no ecumenical service on the Common. Walkers will gather at noon on the lawn across from West Parish Congregational Church and leave around 12:30 p.m.
The walk is approximately 3 miles (5k) around the village and has several loops. Walkers may walk as far as they like or as short as they want. Last year the walk was virtual. A total of 75% supports the ongoing work of Church World Service. CWS has worked for nearly seven decades with one goal: building a world where there is enough for all.
The mission statement says, “We affirm the power of individuals and communities to take ownership of their future. That means a refugee family who is able to start a new life. Or someone rebuilding after disaster finds safety with dignity.”
25% stays in our community, benefiting the Bethel Food Pantry and the children’s Food Backpack program. The Food Pantry is open the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Nazarene Church for those that might have food insecurity. The World Service committee will have a booth at the Harvest on The Bethel Common Saturday, September 18 to promote hunger awareness and encourage CROP Hunger Walk donations.
How to contribute:
1. Pick up a sponsor sheet and ask folks to sponsor you on the walk.
2. Donate to a walker.
3. Make a contribution—cash, check, or online. Contact Henrie List ( hlist@roadrunner.com )
4. Go to CROP Walk and donate online for the Bethel Area CROP Hunger Walk. https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/bethelme
Some facts:
* If you were in Kenya for instance, you might have to walk miles to get water and carry home 5 gallons (42 lbs.) on your head. Think of the time and energy this takes out of a day—maybe with that time you could raise more crops or livestock or even develop a small business.
How a contribution might help:
* $12 can provide 200 micro-nutrient packets for malnourished children.
* $15 will provide chickens for a family to have protein to eat from the eggs
* $30 can drill one meter of a shallow borehole well-providing safe and clean water for a community.
* 60 will provide two months of meals for a family of four
* $110 can provide a family with an emergency food package in time of disaster.
Currently, CWS is involved with the Haitian earthquake recovery efforts.
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