No one should ever have to go hungry, but the reality is that not everyone has the same access to nutritious food. According to the Department of Human Services, approximately 1.7 million people suffer from food insecurity on a daily basis in Pennsylvania. Those most in need of resources, often people living in rural areas, have limited access to community support, including transportation. Additionally, seniors are among the most susceptible to food insecurity.
There are also many unique challenges when it comes to dealing with food insecurity in rural locations. For example, people living in rural areas — despite living in farm country — may live in a location that offers little nutritious food because supermarkets might not find their locations to be especially profitable. A gap often filled by discount stores offering hyper-processed food and sugary drinks, which fuel chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
It seems almost absurd to think that in a country with so much abundance, people still go without healthy food, so rather than ignore the problem, let’s step up and help our neighbors.
One way to do this is to support The Greater Lycoming County CROP Hunger Walk. According to their website, The Greater Lycoming County CROP Hunger Walk is more than just a gathering of people in a place. They are part of a movement, taking steps and raising funds to provide meals for those in our community who need them and supporting programs that create greater food security in communities all around the world.
The CROP Hunger Walk is a nationwide movement sponsored by Church World Service to raise funds to end hunger and poverty in the US, and around the world.
Hundreds of religious groups, businesses, schools, and others organize local Walk events in their communities each year, while others join the National Walk and choose their own location and experience.
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk fundraising events held in cities and towns across the United States. They were created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization that transforms communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. After a CROP Hunger Walk ends, 25% of the funds raised are returned to the host community to support local hunger-fighting efforts.
The Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to our hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. The first CROP Hunger Walks took place in Bismarck, North Dakota (1969), and York, Pennsylvania (1970). Since then, CROP Hunger Walk events have been held in hundreds of communities, large and small, raising millions of dollars to eradicate hunger and poverty.
Our community’s annual walk to fight hunger, the CROP Walk, is scheduled for Sunday, October 13, 2024. Registration and Walk will begin at 1 p.m. in front of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (142 Market Street, Williamsport). Walkers can walk 3, 6, or 9 miles on the River Walk. Other structured opportunities will be in Hughesville, Quiggleville, and Trout Run. People may also choose to walk on their own or create another location.
The Walk benefits Church World Service, Jersey Shore Care and Share, Sonlight House of Muncy, United Churches of Lycoming, and the County Food Pantry. This year is the 46th Walk, and to date, the CROP Walk has raised over 1 million dollars to help stop hunger. Last year, almost $6,000 was raised.
Together, we can fight hunger both locally and globally. Of the money we raise, 25% goes to our community and is distributed equally among the Jersey Shore Care and Share, the Sonlight House of Muncy, the United Churches of Lycoming County’s Food Pantry, and the West End Christian Community Center. The other 75% is distributed by Church World Service nationally and internationally to help hungry people.
CROP Walk materials may be found at http://www.crophungerwalk.org/williamsportpa, or you may also contact the office of United Churches of Lycoming County for physical materials. Please return all collected funds to United Churches of Lycoming County by the end of October. You may submit late funds through the end of November. For more information, contact Tammey Edkin at director@uclc.org or at 570-322-1110.
