Bringing in a bumper CROP

Sonoma’s Fifth Annual CROP Hunger Walk is coming up on Sunday, April 6, when supporters of CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) take to the streets to raise awareness about global poverty and money to help end it.

Participants have begun raising pledges through their churches and other organizations. On April 6, walk registration will begin at noon at the First Congregational Church, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. A one or three mile walk will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a brief celebration at the church.

The Sonoma Walk is one of nine to be held that weekend throughout the Bay Area involving some 4,000 people. CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walks are held each year across the U.S. under the auspices of Church World Service (CWS), a consortium of 37 Christian denominations that work to alleviate global poverty.

Since the first one, in 1969, CROP Walks have grown in scope and impact. Last year more than 1,500 communities across the USA held hunger walks and raised over $15 million to fight poverty globally and locally.

Twenty-five percent of the funds raised this year will remain in the Sonoma Valley to support the work of FISH (Friends in Sonoma Helping) and the Sonoma Overnight Support shelter. The remaining funds will support the work of CWS in 80 countries around the world providing famine relief, supporting self-help development projects (digging wells, providing tools and seeds, etc.), meeting emergency needs in the wake of natural disasters and aiding refugees.

Sonoma’s Fifth Annual CROP Hunger Walk is sponsored by a local interfaith group in cooperation with CWS. For information on participating and donating visit BayAreaHungerWalk.org or call Rich Hacker at 326.4742.