Getting Ready for the 2020 Virtual CROP Hunger Walk

"They are to do good, to be rich in good works,

to be generous and ready to share.”

1 Timothy 6:18

 

The Greater Lexington Community is Walking Virtually throughout September's Hunger Action Month!
 
Many of us will Walk with our immediate family in a nearby park, around our neighborhood, backyard or in our homes. Perhaps we will Walk with a few friends (adhering to ALL COVID restrictions). Unable to Walk in solidarity (even if apart) Sunday Sept. 27? Choose any day/time during Sept./early Oct. to Walk. Spirit Walk online any time @crophungerwalk.org/lexingtonky. Checks payable to CWS/CROP can be mailed to our Walk's Treasurer Nathan Lee, 401 Clinton Rd, Lex., KY 40502.

 
This ongoing pandemic has created staggering hunger plights not only for our KY kids!  Alas, "Kentucky is currently ranked highest in the nation for food insecurity among older adults ages 50-59!" (godspantry.org)  While enduring drastic climate extremes, our Dominican Republic neighbors are struggling with worsening poverty and hunger! (cwsglobal.org) The funds we raise will assist global families learning how to develop gardens and fish farms and our local food bank to meet the overwhelming food needs of our most vulnerable KY friends.
 
We are going Big and Bountiful this COVID year!  With generous gifts from each one of us blessed with food, clean water, a safe home, we intend to meet our $30,000 goal!  The Challenge: Donate at least $20 OR 20% more than last year!  Register to WALK with a Team already online OR create your own!  Discover ideas @ resources.crophungerwalk.org or resources.crophungerwalk.org/Virtual-Walks. Experience joy building a world where there is enough for all!
 
Walking Together (even if apart) with Joy, Peace and Love,
Judy Maxson, Walk organizer

"Jack and I did our CROP Walk in our neighborhood

on this beautiful Labor Day morning. Of course, the African women with head loads on my old CROP Walk t-shirt are working harder than I was. But I know from living in three West African countries that their talent and posture and grace should be admired!"

2019 Greater Lexington CROP Hunger Walk Follow-Up

"Always remember, you have within you the Strength, the Patience, and the Passion to reach for the Stars to change the world."

-Harriet Tubman

Let us celebrate Greater Lex. Hunger Fighters! Our 50th Anniversary fund raising brought us closer to our 'Stars'; our journey to reach our collective $30K goal. We're on our way...our most yet... $26,206.37!

Having fun before the Walk began

We welcomed several first time Walkers representing Central Baptist Church, Central Christian, Newman Center Holy Spirit and Danville Presbyterian, 18 senior pastors, associate pastors and youth leaders were among the 230+ folks ranging in age from babies to 80+ year old youngsters! On a personal note, several family members from AZ, MD, CO and IL completely surprised me showing-up 'last minute' to Walk with us!

  

MidLife Harmony entertains the gathering crowd

MidLife Harmony's energetic beat got our 'soles' ready to go, colorful posters were made at the Art station, many cans of food were donated at God's Pantry Station, 'ONE' station promoted letter writing to retain SNAP benefits and Friends Meeting shared literature depicting other ways we can be of service. 'Twas a glorious, blessed Anniversary Walk. 

Abundant gratitude to everyone for giving your time, energy, resources and dedication to our mission! 🙏

Special recognition to my Team: Nell, Anne, Kris, Alice, Nathan and Phil. Thanks again, Rev. Jerry and 1st Christian Church, Winchester for selling water to raise funds during Pioneer Day Festival Labor Day weekend and providing water along our Walk route keeping folks and furry friends hydrated. Thank You! Team Captains for your commitment, diligence and creativity engaging your church, organization, family and friends in our Walk.

My honor to Walk in Peace, Joy and Love with Church World Service, God's Pantry Food Bank and each Walker making our community and world a better place for ALL God's children in need.❤

Looking forward to our 2020 Walk Mission!

Blessings,
Judy M.

Save these Dates!

Team Captain Rally, Thurs. Aug. 20

CROP Hunger Walk, Sun. Sept. 27, 3 PM 2nd Presbyterian

         

WALK Day Reminders

WALK......GIVE.....HELP change the World 

one Step at a Time... Sunday Sept. 29th

• 3 PM  Registration and Fellowship Activities.  Music provided by MidLife Harmony Quartet

• 3:25 Send off blessing charge

• 3:30 3 mile Walk begins in and around Aylesford, Ashland, Kenwick neighborhoods

• Everyone will check-in at registration tables to receive WALK sticker. ALL hard copy Registration Sheets handed in listing youth (includes statement of consent) MUST be legible and complete.

• Don't forget your water bottle! Refill at Water Station, Ashland School, 1.5 mile point

• Bring 1-2 cans protein food to donate at God's Pantry station located on site

• Weather forecasts another HOT Walk Day!  Wear hat, sunglasses, light colors, drink plenty of water!

• Purchase a 50th Anniversary T-shirt (or one from last year) to wear while walking

• Poster-making table on site; DO bring one already made and ready to carry

• Volunteer crossing guards will be located at major intersections

• Everyone will adhere to ALL traffic lights, NO jaywalking, follow WALK SIGNS posted along route; Stay on Sidewalk please!

• NO scooters, NO skateboards.  Wagons, strollers, dogs OK :)

• We will Walk if light rain.  Will cancel if thunderstorm.

       WALK Day Reminders:

    As I reflect on the joy and honor organizing and doing this HEART work with my community of dedicated, loving friends and as we celebrate the profound, giving work Church World Service and God's Pantry Food Bank continue to do, may our 50th Anniversary Walk reap more than we expect!  Our $30,500 goal is attainable!  Our current on-line donations exceed all past years'; WE CAN DO THIS! 

    Abundant gratitude to each person helping to change lives as we Walk Together for ALL our neighbors in need of their most basic human rights!  See you all Sunday!

     Peace, Joy and Love,

     Judy

Getting Ready for the 2019 Walk

"I can do things you cannot, 

you can do things I cannot; 

TOGETHER we can do GREAT THINGS."

-Mother Teresa

            
Together, Sunday, Sept. 29th the Greater Lexington community will be Walking in
solidarity with all our sisters and brothers around the world who struggle to meet their basic needs; food, clean water, safety. Our Walk donations may be used, if needed, to help survivors recover from Dorian's devastation. When folks can't recover quickly from disasters, they are vulnerable to hunger and poverty. Across Central and Eastern KY over 70,000 children know how it feels to be hungry!

Together, our compassion and love for all God's people in need ignites our hearts and spirits to reach $30,500! What a grand 50th Walk Anniversary gift this will be!

  
Together, we can do this!  Currently, $2,500 online donations; we're on our way!

Walking Together
in Peace, Joy and Love,

             Judy Maxson

2018 CROP Hunger Walk Report

We make a living by what we GET

but we make a life by what we GIVE.

                    Sir Winston Churchill

    Yeah! another warm, sunny afternoon welcomed 250+ enthusiastic Hunger Fighters Sunday, Sept. 30th, 2018.

We represented a diverse interfaith community of 22 church families and 2 organizations, LexVets and God's Pantry Food Bank, from 6 counties: Fayette, Jessamine, Clark, Madison, Bourbon and Woodford. This year we welcomed 'new' friends; St. John's Episcopal Church, Versailles, LexVets organization and Versailles Presbyterian Church. We were delighted and honored Andrew Gifford, our Church World Service Community Specialist liaison, Columbus, Ohio, shared the afternoon with us; greeting Walkers, creating colorful posters, offering our send-off charge and walking!

     Upon serving my 15th year organizing and walking with each one of you and yours in our partnership with Church World Service and God's Pantry Food Bank, I am exceedingly grateful for all that we've accomplished again this year making our community and world a better place for all God's children in need. With end-of-year donations still being counted, let us Celebrate our recent treasurer's report, "very good estimate of $24,200"; the 3rd highest amount we've raised in our Walk's 31 year history!   I'm extremely confident the final tally will include the $45.00 needed to reach 2nd place! We are so close!

       Abundant heartfelt "Thank You" to one and all for giving your time, energy, resources and dedication to Our Walk Mission!  Special recognition to my Walk Team: Nell V., Kriis Z., Alice P., Nathan L., Phil M, and Dwight C.; Crestwood Christian Church for hosting another successful Ecumenical Youth Poster-making Party and 1st Christian Church, Winchester, selling water to raise Walk funds during Pioneer Day Festival Labor Day weekend & providing water at their educational station along our Walk route.  Kudos! to each Recruiter for your tenacity, commitment, creativity and diligence engaging your church, organization and community participation in our mission; several of you implementing the educational component during summer Bible School and other church school events!

         Anticipating our 2019 Walk mission with each
               one of you and yours....and others!
         Walking Together in Peace, Joy and Love,
             Judy Maxson

Save these 2019 Dates!
Recruiter's Rally, 
      Thurs. Aug. 22nd, 7 PM 2nd Presbyterian Church
Greater Lex. CROP Hunger Walk, 
      Sun. Sept. 29th, 3 PM 2nd Pres.

Pisgah Walkers

Crestwood Walkers

Walk Day Reminders

'If you want to go Fast, go Alone.

If you want to go Far, go Together.'

                          African Proverb

 Sunday, Sept. 30th Walk Day Reminders:
            3:00 PM Sign-in and on-site Activities
            3:25 PM Send-off charge
            3:30 PM Walk begins.

• Invite at least one first time Walker with you!
• We are 'GREEN'.  Do bring your own water bottle which can be refilled at First Christian Church (Winchester) Water Station located 1/2 point at Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden.
• Bring one/two cans of protein food (tuna, chicken, peanut butter) to donate to God's Pantry Food Bank.
• New design 2018 Walk T-shirts will be sold for $12.00; prior years' for $8.00.
• Bring LOTS of posters to carry while walking.  A poster-making station will also be on-site to create more posters between 3-3:25.
• Online REGISTRATION and DONATION encouraged!  which makes Walk Day check-in easier!
• ALL hard copy Registration Sheets (statement of consent listed on each sheet) turned in Walk Day MUST be completed in full (as instructed at our Rally).
• Volunteer Crossing Guards will be located at 5 major intersections.  Everyone will adhere to ALL traffic lights, NO jaywalking,  follow the WALK SIGNS posted along 3 mile route AND stay on the sidewalks!   NO bikes, NO skateboards, NO scooters allowed.  Strollers, wagons, dogs OK.
• Physical limitations? Plan to Walk 'just part of route'?  Need a lift? Plan to Ride the Walk on 2nd Presbyterian's bus. Lakshman will make frequent stops.
• The Walk will be held if light rain; of course cancelled if storming.

       Acutely aware that thousands of our Carolina and Philippine neighbors are suffering from recent tragic storms/flooding our Walk funds may be used, if needed, to assist with recovery efforts.  When people can't recover quickly from disasters, they are vulnerable to hunger and poverty. Therefore, let us be more steadfast and diligent as we continue our fund raising efforts! This is not the time to 'ease-up' asking our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, club members to donate to our Walk Mission: to bring gifts of HOPE, share HELP, restore Dignity to all God's children in need of the most basic human rights.

         We are Walking Together and Making a Difference!
         Peace, Joy and Love,
         Judy Maxson, organizer

Here is our 2018 Hunger Walk route

Getting Ready for the 2018 Walk

Lord, to those who HUNGER give bread. 

And to those who have bread give the HUNGER for Justice.

                             Latin America prayer

The Greater Lexington CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk will be Sunday, Sept. 30th at Second Presbyterian Church, E. Main and Ransom.  Registration and check-in begins at 3 PM. On site fellowship activities will include poster making,  learn more about God's Pantry Food Bank and bring a can(s) protein food to donate, discover how you can support the 'ONE' campaign's work against extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa, purchase a 2018 CROP Hunger T-shirt to wear, gather for group pictures, etc.

At 3:25, our guest Walker, Andrew Gifford, Community Engagement Specialist with Church World Service (CWS) will deliver our send-off charge.

Our all new 3 mile experiential Walk in and around Bell Court and East End historic sites, Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden and Charles Young Park will begin at 3:30. 'Ride the Walk' in 2nd Pres. bus will be available for those with physical limitations.

Eight 'new' Team Captains/Co-Captains made our exciting Rally Aug. 23rd. extra joyful!  Andrew Gifford described how the impact of our fund raising this year will support CWS Timor Zero Hunger program in Indonesia. Want more info? go to crophungerwalk.org/Indonesia.  Misty Simms, God's Pantry Food Bank, thanked us for our 25% grant ($6,148) last year which helped provide thousands of emergency meals to our neighbors in Central and Eastern KY.  Yes, indeed we DO make a difference!

Save this Date!  Sunday, Sept. 23rd, 4:30-6 PM, Crestwood Christian Church, 1882 Bellefonte Dr., Lex!
Ecumenical Youth Poster-making Pizza Party for all youth...and adults!  Once again, gratitude to Rev. Kory and Rev. Trish for hosting this creative, fun, interfaith event. PLEASE RSVP to Trish@crestwoodchristian.org by noon Fri. Sept. 21.

This IS the year we will meet our ever elusive $30,000 goal!  We are determined! We can Do this!  So many are suffering while we have so much!  As Anne Frank reminds us: 'No one has become poor by giving.'

       Walking Together in
       Peace, Joy and Love,
          Judy Maxson, Walk organizer