The amount raised online, as of today, is $15,734.00.  This is a growing amount and will continue to change as more donations are collected on the web.

Once the other monies are counted we will be able to give a final amount, most probably in the early fall.

In the meantime, thanks to everyone who made the day a success.  There is a preliminary slide show on the website that you can see and get a flavor of the day, in case you weren’t there. Just click here to go to the page.

We look forward to more interesting stories about the day and about the walk that Church World Service does for people in the U.S. and around the world.

Thanks to all the people who attended the meeting.  We appreciate your participation.  We are off to a great start.

News Release Re CROP Hunger Walk—Oak Park—5/1/2011

The Oak Park/Forest Park Area CROP Hunger Walk will kick off at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 1 from Pilgrim Congregational Church on Lake St. in Oak Park.

Last year over 400 walkers from thirty congregations and organizations raised over $75,000 to put this area’s total for 27 years at over $1 million.  25% of the money raised remains in this area, going to agencies like the Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry, Cluster Tutoring and PADS.

CROP is the fundraising arm of Church World Service, an ecumenical umbrella group which is right now consulting with Japanese officials regarding how to best contribute to the needs of people suffering from the recent earthquake and tsunami.  Church World Service, like most relief agencies, partners with many other organizations and local officials to make sure that the right people receive the right kind of aid.

For more information or to sign up for the walk go to www.oakparkhungercropwalk.org or contact Pat Eichenold, this area’s CROP chairperson, at 708-848-5415

If you want more information or pictures, let me know and I’ll be happy to supply them.  If you want to do a story on our CROP Walk, here are a few angles:

1. We topped $1 million last year for the 27 year total for this area.
2. We were the number one CROP Walk in Illinois and number 10 in the nation.
3. 25% of the money raised (last year $75,000) remains in this area going to agencies like PADS.

Fill in the form below for more information. [contact-form]

Take a look at the  to see what we mean and how you make a difference.

IT’S ACTIVE

The CROP Walk gets people off their chairs and actively involved.  One of the CROP aphorisms is, “We walk, because they walk.”  In other words, many people in third world countries have to walk miles in order to get drinking water.  By walking in the CROP Walk, not only is money raised to help drill wells and provide filtration systems, but it helps the walkers identify with the people they are serving.  Simply writing a check doesn’t do this.

25% STAYS AT HOME

It’s much easier to motivate parishioners to participate when they learn that one quarter of the money raised will remain in their area.  In our case, thousands of dollars last year went to West Suburban PADS and several local food pantries.

IT’S ECUMENICAL

While a pastor might not completely agree with the theologies of colleagues down the street, most clergy earnestly want to model love of neighbor, which of course includes people of other faith traditions.  Last year we had Muslims, Jews, agnostics and many varieties of Christians all walking together in a common cause.

Pastor Tom Holmes

Our many thanks to all that made this possible.  Your continued participation will made 2011 another banner year for feeding the hungry and providing hope to those in need.

The Recruiter Orientation Rally flyers have been sent out.  It will be held Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

At the Recruiter Rally:

Pick up materials you will use in promoting the CROP Walk in your church/organization

Get tips from experienced recruiters

• Meet the local agencies that receive support
• Learn about work being done around the world using CROP funds
• Learn to raise funds on the internet

75% of funds raised will support:

Church World Service, the ecumenical relief and development agency working in over 80 countries.

25% of funds raised will support:

• Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry
• West Suburban PADS
• Pine Avenue Food Pantry
• Forest Park Food Pantry
• Cluster Tutoring Program
• Proviso Food Pantry
• Columbus Park Food Pantry
• St. Eulalia ECHO Food Pantry
• OPRF Walk-In Ministry

For more information send an email.

Our goal is to keep you informed of our event and to raise money for the CROP Hunger Walk which is being held May 1, 2011.

In 2010 Hunger Walkathon West raised $75,020.78 to feed the hungry.

CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide — and right here in the U.S. — to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world — and in their own communities.

Over the coming days and weeks we will let you know about the work all of us are doing to raise money for this amazing cause.  We hope you will join us.