CROP Walk is Sunday

With the weather clearing, local residents will have the opportunity to support the fight against world hunger.

Bob Eckles, organizer of this year's Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty Walk, said he hopes for good participation despite a rough start in the planning stages. The committee responsible for the organization of the annual event faced many challenges as they battled illness and weather. The event was originally scheduled for Oct. 11, but was rescheduled due to the flooding of Gunn Park.

"I'm hoping for good participation," Eckles said. "In the past we've had 75 or 100 people, but I'll be happy with 25 or 50."

The event will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Shelter House No. 3 in Gunn Park, 1010 Park Ave., with registration beginning at 1:30 p.m. Before starting the nearly two mile walk, participants turn in donations collected and will receive a free T-shirt, Eckles said. The walk will begin with a prayer and will be followed by walk participants assembling for refreshments.

The first CROP Walk in Fort Scott was held in 1979 with the goal that people of all ages walking together to take a stand against world hunger and to raise awareness and funds for international relief and development. The walk itself is symbolic of those in other countries who have to walk long distances to get clean water, as well as those locally who have to walk to The Beacon, a local food pantry which provides assistance to needy Bourbon County residents.

Since the first event, Fort Scott residents have raised about $64,000 through donations and sponsors recruited by participants to donate a particular dollar amount to the organization's cause, Eckles said.

One-fourth of the money raised stays in Fort Scott to purchase food and other necessities for The Beacon. The remainder of a person's donation goes to Church World Services, a cooperative global ministry geared toward disaster relief, development and assistance.

The walk raised about $3,900 last year, which the committee hopes to match this year. Eckles said the goal is to raise $4,000 but knows it could be a tall order.

"It is going to be difficult this year," Eckles said. "But whatever we get can be used."

Eckles said the past year has been record setting for The Beacon as far as food requests. He said the number of requests for food has "significantly" increased.

"(Requests) reached an all-time high in 2009," Eckles said.

Individuals are still able to make donations to the event as well as support the cause by walking, Eckles said. Donations can be brought to the walk or mailed to: The Beacon, Attn.: Bob Eckles, 525 E. 6th St., Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

More information about CROP can also be found online at www.churchworldservice.org.