The annual three month Bethel Churches United (BCU) CROP Hunger Walk campaign will reach its crescendo this Sunday, September 20. Walkers from all over Western Clark County will gather at New Carlisle Church of the Brethren to walk 5 kilometers (for relatively young and fit) or the “Mini-Walk” around the block (for chronologically challenged, mobility challenged, and small children).
Co-chairs Connie Cox and Carol Dutton have led the charge in the all-out effort to once again raise $10,000+ and to bring out 100 or more walkers to show empathy for those who have no choice but to walk miles and miles and more miles every day.
That’s what it’s all about. In undeveloped countries (particularly in many rural African villages), a woman’s life is dominated by a daily chore of walking 10 or 20 kilometers or more, carrying a large water jug on her head to the nearest source of safe drinking water for her family. Of course the return trip with a full jug is more tiring. That’s why we see CROP Hunger Walk signs throughout New Carlisle, Medway, and Park Layne Manor that say “We Walk Because They Walk.”
One of many Church World Service humanitarian projects, which costs only slightly more than $1,000 using CROP Hunger Walk donations, is to provide water well digging equipment to a remote village. This is not a hand-out; it’s a hand-up. The villagers dig their own well, and when the project is completed, they work with a neighboring village to move the equipment over and the second village digs its own well and the process continues to replicate. Just imagine how many lives are improved dramatically because of the kindness of CROP Hunger Walk donors. It is also gratifying that 25% of our CROP Hunger Walk collections will be used to restock the shelves of the BCU Food Pantry.
Registration begins at 1:00 pm and the 5K and “Mini-Walk” begin at 2:00 pm, with preliminary activities in between to rally the walkers. Clark County Amateur Radio Association members will be stationed all along the 5K route to promote the safety of all walkers and provide assistance when needed. Water and cookies will be available to walkers at Willowick Park and Smith Park.
The second annual “Mini-Walk” is designed for fun, especially for kids! Some interesting celebrities will accompany the mini-walkers around the block, such as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Coco the Clown, Lee the Chicken, and Champ the Buck.
Everyone in the community is invited to come out this Sunday afternoon, walk with us, and obtain that special warmth in your heart that comes from being a part of something very special in New Carlisle.
