2015 Hunger Walk Review

     "I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot;
together we can do great things."  Mother Teresa

       Oh, how Mother Teresa's spirit is smiling on our generous, caring, loving CROP Hunger Walk community! To the 340 plus Walkers representing 27 churches/organizations from 5 counties, the many dedicated recruiters and pastors, numerous volunteers: Let us Rejoice in our good work!

       To date, we have raised over $23,000!  We've ONLY had one other year in our Walk's history that we did as well!  Since we have received Thanksgiving and Christmas donations in the past, and hope this will happen over the next few weeks too, our total gift(s) to Church World Service and God's Pantry Food Bank can be more of a blessing to all of our hungry sisters, brothers and children here....and there. Additional Spirit-Walking gifts may be made through March 2016 on the Crop Hunger Walk website.

       Let us also Celebrate our successful pre-Walk poster making/pizza party, Sept. 20th!  Abundant Thanks to Crestwood Christian Church youth leaders, Patrick and Casey, for offering to host this event.  Along with Stacey Stone, our Walk's educational leader, they planned a creative evening of fun and fellowship for nearly 50 youth, pastors and assistants. One could not miss all the informative, colorful posters carried on the Walk. Kudos! to Casey, Patrick and youth for already 'asking' to host this popular event next Fall.  Gratitude to Crestwood Christian, Good Shepherd Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist, First Church of Christ Scientist and Victory Christian youth and sponsors for enriching our Walk experience with their informative, interactive educational stations.

        We welcomed 12 new, energetic friends from Central KY Taiwanese American Association; "we are so pleased to participate and we will be back next year and bring more people with us." It was grand to have Faith Lutheran Church and Maxwell Presbyterian return to our mission this year.  A few walkers from Calvary Baptist and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic joined us Walk Day. Yeah! 9 churches can claim more than 15 walkers each!

        WOW! Our mission was the front page lead article, pictures too!, the following morning in the Herald-Leader newspaper-still available at Kentucky.com.  This was the first year that a local business was eager to support our mission. Gratitude to Alfalfa Restaurant for promoting the Greater Lex. CROP Hunger Walk and for their donation!  May we appreciate their goodwill with brunching/dining there a few times over this next year.

        Once again, I am very grateful to have the honor and joy to continue our work together this coming year!  Thanks again to each one of you for giving your time, energy, creativity and donations to support the mission of our Walk!




        Blessings of Peace, Joy and Love,
        Judy Maxson

SAVE these 2016 Dates:
      Recruiter's Rally, Thurs. Aug. 18th, 7 PM
      Walk, Sunday, Sept. 25th, 3 PM 

2015 Walk Day Info

"There are people in the world so hungry, that God
cannot appear to them except in the form of bread."

                Mahatma Gandhi

#E1-B1  Each One - Bring One to the Greater Lexington CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk

Sunday, Sept. 27, 3:00 PM
2nd Presbyterian Church, E. Main/Ransom
 

           The ONLY Central/Eastern KY Hunger Walk is NOT just a church event. But we are a 'Labor of Love' community, walking in solidarity with ALL of our sisters, brothers and children, near and far, in their struggle to feed their families and secure access to clean, safe water. And, YES!, our neighbors in 50 counties served by God's Pantry Food Bank and served by Church World Service benefit from our fund raising efforts!  Last year, GPFB was able too provide nearly 27,000 meals with their 25% grant. One of the many CWS programs that received funds from the 1300 national 'grassroots' CROP Hunger Walks was improving access to clean water, sanitation, and food to 6,000 people in Indonesia. Much progress has been made these past several years for tens of thousands of lives... but yet, there is far to go. (www.churchworldservice.org and www.GodsPantryFoodBank.org)

             No one has ever become poor by giving. We are a generous community.  We have the resources to educate our communities that Hunger is Real and Hunger is Near. I truly believe our caring, compassionate community can reach our long-hopeful goal of $25,000 this year.  I know we can do this! If not already done; I'm requesting that your church, civic club, organization, school sign-up your TEAM TODAY ... and then follow-up with sharing WHY you are Walking (go to Participant Center).  The right column of this blog has a direct link to the on-line site OR go to www.cropwalkonline.org.  Promote the Walk on your social media and CROP Hunger Walk's FB.

        WALK DAY INFO:

    Arrive 3 PM to register and fellowship.  Activities will include poster-making (BRING plenty of your own SIGNS too), purchase Walk T-shirt, $12 (proceeds donated), hopeful face painting, God's Pantry Food Bank station (BRING non perishable item (protein foods needed!), "ONE" Campaign representatives, group pictures...and more.
    3:25 pm- CROP Hunger Walk Litany responsive send off. Memorial minute for recently deceased, Carnella Clay. Our tireless, passionate St. Peter Claver Church recruiter these past several years.
   3:30 PM....WALK begins....ALL new route through Eastside, Kenwick and Bell House. 

             We have 'new' groups presenting experiential stations along the route...plus musicians too!  Our youth devote much thought,time, and energy developing their educational stations. DO STOP at each station!...to not only reflect on YOUR blessings but to appreciate their work. Our Walk is NOT a Race. FOLLOW THE WALK SIGNS!  NO JAYWALKING!  REMAIN on the SIDEWALKS and please, be mindful of uneven places. THANK YOU!

             We are 'GREEN'.  BRING your own water bottle. Refills at Victory Christian Church's water station.

             Lakshman will drive the 2nd Pres. van for those unable to Walk the 3 miles.  He will stop at the 'stations'.

             Gratitude to the many committed leaders and participants from 5 counties that are mobilizing their churches/groups, to all of our Spirit Walkers that are donating on line and to the many volunteers that help my team and I coordinate this worthy mission!  We are putting our faith into action to Share Help, Bring Gifts of Hope and Advocate for ALL of God's children.

        Abundant Thanks!
        Judy Maxson, Coordinator Greater Lex. CROP Hunger Walk
        jke659@gmail.com

The 2015 Walk Route. Click for larger view.

Continuing the Mission in 2015

  "When you are hungry, you can't think of anything else."
  Janie Mendez, 17

       We know that hunger does exist in all of our KY communities and around the world. For many adults and children, going to bed hungry is not a threat; it's a regular happening!  AND...YES! you and I can "do something about it!"

       How?  By working together with our families, friends and neighbors to increase awareness of hunger and poverty and to raise funds for God's Pantry Food Bank and Church World Service.  We will continue our mission to help end hunger one step at a time on Sunday Sept. 27th when we walk in solidarity in the Greater Lexington CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk.

       Last year we raised $19,435. We will work more diligently this year to attain our long standing goal of $25,000. We CAN do this! We have the resources in Central KY to make this a reality. As your Walk team begins planning for this year's event, we will be contacting the 30 groups that participated in 2014, along with 'new' groups, before June 30th. We are looking forward to working with each one of you!

       The Recruiter's Rally will be Thurs., August 20th, 7-8:15 PM at Second Presbyterian Church, E. Main, Lexington.  You will receive all the information and resources you need to promote the Walk within your congregation or organization!  Plus, we enjoy fellowship, fun and food. See you then!

       Thank You!
       Judy Maxson,
            Walk coordinator