Walkers raise money for anti-poverty and hunger-prevention program. Each year, Barnes County Food Pantry is a huge recipient of annual CROP Walk fundraising dollars. (Jean Schlegel/VCTR file photo)

By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

Community members are asked to sign up to join this year’s Valley City CROP Walk on Sunday, May 4, or sponsor those who walk.
CROP means Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.
“Make a difference in the community and the world,” says LaDeen Knutson, this year’s publicity chair. The theme for the 2008 CROP Walk is “We walk because they walk.”
The Valley City community walk begins at Our Savior’s Church parking lot and is routed through Valley City on Sunday, May 4, starting at 1 p.m.
Of the $7,408 raised from last year’s CROP Walk, 20 percent of the donations, or $1,482, went to the Barnes County Food Pantry. The Food Pantry only received about $4,635 in FEMA grants; everything else was funded by private and church donations.
“Our CROP Hunger Walk makes a big difference,” Knutson said.

Tower City, Buffalo CROP Walks
An ecumenical CROP Walk is also planned this Sunday, with the walk to begin at 1 p.m. from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tower City to the Community Center in Buffalo. This is a six-mile walk, and root beer floats will be waiting for the walkers when they get to Buffalo,  according to Pastor Cathy Hedmark.

For full story, see Wednesday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.