CROP Walk 2008

About 36 hours ago I learned that the Corpus Christi CROP Walk was scheduled for Nov. 9, and I knew nothing about it. I've walked in the annual CROP Walk for 13 years, since moving to Corpus Christi. Last year was the first year All Saints Episcopal Church participated in the CROP Walk, and we raised almost $3,000! In fact, I blogged about it last year.

However, NO ONE contacted All Saints or me about participating this year. I was very irritated about this until I realized that I've wondered off and on for several months when the CROP Walk would be, but did nothing about that. So I can't really blame everybody else. . . .though it does seem like the organization should care about including a church that was just beginning its participation to encourage persistence. . . ."Shoulda' - woulda' - coulda'!"

Finally, I contacted several people who arranged for walk packets for volunteers, posters, and info about the CROP Walk to be delivered to All Saints. As I wondered if there is enough time to get people involved, the only two people I've mentioned this to signed up to walk! The church secretary, who happens to be a Quaker, is helping me out with publicity and her enthusiasm. So the way seems to be becoming clearer. . . .

AND now if any of you blogging friends want to contribute to the CROP Walk, go here. In each area that a Walk occurs, 25% stays in the community and the rest goes to alleviate worldwide hunger through Church World Service.

Americans, Ice Cream, and World Needs

According to a quote in the latest Christian Century magazine (Nov. 13, 2007) under "Centurymarks, "Americans eat so much ice cream each year that the same amount of money spent on ice cream could radically increase the health and welfare of others in the world. Look:

"Americans spend $20 billion each year on ice cream. But according to United Nations figures, over the next 10 years it would take only $7 billion to provide clean water and basic sanitation for the entire world, and another $4 billion to finance basic health care for the same period that would prevent the death of 3 million infants each year." (Theology, News and Notes, Fall)

Saving the money my family spends on ice cream could help others--AND help my husband's and my overweight problem. What a thought!

AND ON THE SUBJECT OF HELPING OTHERS--If you haven't already contributed to an organization that helps world hunger, please donate to the CROP Walk, which occurs this Sunday here in Corpus Christi, TX.

Corpus Christi, TX CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, November 11, 2007

Donate to the CROP Walk

(If you want more information about the CROP Walk, look at CROP Hunger Walk, CROP Walk Hunger Quiz!, Plumpy'nut and Malnutrition in Africa, and/or Making Poverty History.)

Plumpy'nut and Malnutrition in Africa

Ever since I was in Zambia in June 2006, my heart has been aching for the starving and suffering children I saw there. Tonight I watched "60 Minutes" on CBS and found a news story about Doctors Without Borders feeding malnourished children plumpy'nut, which is either called "ready-to-use food" (RUF) or "ready to use therapeutic food" (RUTF). More scientific or "official" news articles use these acronyms for "plumpy'nut."

There is a news release from October 10, 2007 from Doctors Without Borders (MSF for its French initials) that cites the news program on CBS and gives much information about the use and effectiveness of plumpy'nut in Africa for malnutrition that is definitely worth your time and attention to look at.

"Project Peanut Butter was launched as a new approach to the treatment of malnutrition among Malawian children. The project has since been proven as an effective method with success rates reaching average recovery rates of 89.9% and even higher among some regions. The treatment centers on a peanut based paste rich in protein and fats with a complete complement of vitamins and minerals. This Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) can be manufactured locally with importation of only the additional vitamins and minerals. The paste is resistant to bacterial contamination under all climatic conditions due to its low water content and does not require cooking. This is a tremendous advantage because it removes the burden of having to collect firewood and provides an easy way to produce nutritious food. "

Again from Doctors Without Borders:

"Severe acute malnutrition in early childhood is common in large areas of the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and South Asia -- the world's "malnutrition hotspots." The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 20 million young children suffering from severe acute malnutrition at any given moment and MSF estimates that only three percent of them will receive RUF in 2007.

"Therapeutic RUF for only severely malnourished children, as current WHO, World Food Program, and UNICEF guidelines recommend, is too restrictive. Given its nutritional benefits, RUF has the potential to address malnutrition at earlier stages and is far more effective than fortified blended flour, which is normally distributed. MSF is piloting a program using a modified RUF as a supplement to prevent children from becoming acutely malnourished.

"Instead of waiting for kids to get gravely ill we decided to act earlier," said Dr. Susan Shepherd, MSF medical coordinator, Maradi, Niger. "We are piloting a program that gives RUF to all children under three in at-risk communities so that they get the nutrients that are missing in their normal diet."

This is hopeful, but something we all need to be supporting. So far away, I can continue to pray. But we can also participate in activities to alieve hunger like the CROP Walk and making donations to the organizations listed above and others that you research yourselves.

Remember:
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 20 million young children suffering from severe acute malnutrition at any given moment and MSF estimates that only three percent of them will receive RUF in 2007.

CROP Walk Hunger Quiz!

I played this little quiz about world hunger and sadly got 3/7 correct.

Click on PLAY to begin. The timer will start and you will have 30 seconds to answer each question.

Take the Challenge!

Questions per quiz = 7 # of questions answered = 0 Current score= 0 pts Total Score = 0

Play

Making Poverty History

Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT-CWS

Millennium Campaign/Sermon on the Mount Litany

We are the first generation that can eradicate poverty.

We are those who are called
and equipped to make a difference.

We are called to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

We are called to achieve universal primary education.

Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.

We are called to promote gender equality and empower women.

Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

We are called to reduce child mortality.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

We are called to improve maternal health.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

We are called to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.

We are called to ensure environmental sustainability.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

We are called to develop a global partnership for development.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

We are called...

And yes, we hear.

Written for Bread for the World, Gathering 2007, by Jeffrey W. Carter, Pastor, Manassas Church of the Brethren. Used with permission.

CROP Hunger Walk

What does CROP stand for?

When CROP began in 1947 (under the wing of Church World Service, which was founded in 1946), the name was an acronym for the Christian Rural Overseas Program; its primary mission was to help Midwest farm families to share their grain with hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. Reflective of a program that for several decades has been both urban and rural, today CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty and identifies interfaith hunger education and fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by 21 CWS/CROP regional offices across the U.S.

In some CWS/CROP regions, CROP has come to mean Communities Reaching Out to People.

When was the first CROP Hunger Walk?

On October 17, 1969, a thousand people in Bismarck, ND, walked in the first-ever CROP Hunger Walk and raised $25,000 to help stop hunger. Several other CROP Hunger Walks occurred soon thereafter, and before long there were hundreds of CROP Hunger Walks each year in communities nationwide.

How many CROP Hunger Walks are there?

Each year, some 2,000 communities across the U.S. sponsor CROP Hunger Walks. 5,397,199 CROP Hunger Walkers have participated over the past 20 years, and there have been a total of 35,888 CROP Hunger Walks in the past two decades.

Where do CROP Hunger Walk funds go?

CROP Hunger Walks help to support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially the grassroots,hunger-fighting development efforts of partner agencies in some 80 countries. CROP Hunger Walks help to provide tools of hope that empower people to meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs -- something CWS has learned through some 60 years of working in partnership around the world.

In addition, each local CROP Hunger Walk can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises to local hunger-fighting programs.

How do CROP Hunger Walks help out here at home?

This year CROP Hunger Walks will share nearly $4 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens, and other local efforts nationwide. This support is made possible when local CROP Hunger Walks choose our unique option of returning up to 25 percent of what their CROP Walk raises to hunger-fighting programs in their own community.

What else makes CROP Hunger Walks special?

Because CROP Hunger Walks are ecumenical, interfaith, multi-cultural events, individual donors have the option of designating their gifts to other approved international hunger-fighting agencies. This option is unique to CROP events, and available for individual sponsors only. Gifts not so designated go to support the worldwide ministry of Church World Service.

How do I go about starting a CROP Hunger Walk in my community?

Call your CWS/CROP Regional Office, toll-free 888-CWS-CROP (that's 888-297-2767), to find out about the CROP Hunger Walk nearest you. If there isn't a CROP Hunger Walk in your area, your CWS/CROP Regional Office has all the expertise and free promotional materials to help you take the first steps to a successful, fulfilling CROP Walk.

What is Church World Service?

Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations, providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in some 80 countries.

Within the U.S., Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP Hunger Walks, the Tools & Blankets Program, and the CWS Kits Program.

Whether in CROP Hunger Walks, through congregational or denominational giving, individual giving, grants, wills, or charitable gift annuities--people and groups who support the work of Church World Service give in a spirit of oneness with neighbors near and far.

Are corporations and businesses involved in CROP Hunger Walks?

Nationally, upwards of 200 corporations match employee gifts and/or volunteer hours to the CROP Hunger Walk. Locally, thousands of businesses and media outlets support their community's CROP Hunger Walk, providing T-shirts and other supplies, turning out teams of Walkers -- and in many other ways too numerous to list.

How much of each dollar contributed goes toward overhead?

Over the last five years, on average just over 18.5% of the funds contributed to Church World Service has gone to management, fund raising, and information sharing.

Besides the CROP Hunger Walk, does Church World Service have other opportunities for mission outreach?

Yes. The Tools & Blankets Program offers congregations and groups a way to share "tools" both large and small with children and families in need, including blankets, bedding, tents and other shelter items when an emergency or natural disaster occurs. Congregations and groups also get involved through the CWS Kits Program which provides recovery kits -- such as Hygiene Kits, School Kits, Baby Kits, and Clean-up Buckets -- that make a world of difference in emergency situations or areas of ongoing great need. Information on any or all of these outreach opportunities can be yours by calling toll-free 888-CWS-CROP (that's 888-297-2767).

CROP Hunger Walk demographics

• 68% are over 18, average age is 33.5
• About two-thirds are women
• 64% of CROP Hunger Walkers over age 18 have a college or advanced degree, half are professionally employed in their communities
• Half are CROP Hunger Walking for their second, third, fourth, or more time
• 73% of participants say fighting hunger locally and globally is their key reason for taking part
• 53% say the CROP Hunger Walk is the only fund-raising marathon-type activity in which they participate
• Walkers get about 95% of their sponsors from their neighborhood, workplace, family, and place of worship
• Back to top