Agawam and West Springfield residents to participate in hunger walk at local church

April 2, 2019 | Stephanie Trombley
stephanie@thereminder.com

CROP Hunger Walk seeks to bring awareness to ending hunger around the world.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

FEEDING HILLS – According to the CROP Hunger Walk website, “Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing our world, but it doesn’t have to be this way.” That is the driving force behind the CROP Hunger Walk, an annual walk with a goal to raise funds to fight hunger and poverty. On April 28, the towns of West Springfield and Agawam will unite to walk in support of the CROP Hunger Walk initiative at Feeding Hills Congregational Church.

CROP Hunger Walk is a nationwide initiative started by Church World Service (CWS,) a faith-based organization that seeks to find relief from hunger and poverty, displacement and disaster. This year marks 50 years of the CROP Hunger Walk.

A new addition to the walk in Feeding Hills for 2019 is the Passport For Change program. Each child will be given a passport to collect stamps from various activities. The activities will represent six countries assisted by Church World Service. The educational activities will teach children about topics such as food insecurity, education, health care, water, growing food and disasters.

Amanda Rogers, Agawam Coordinator for the CROP Hunger Walk, explained, “The Passport For Change is a program to teach children about food struggles of others both locally and around the world. The families will learn about how CWS uses the money we raise to help people. We are also going to walk together.” C

hildren will receive the final stamp on their passports at the halfway mark of the walk, just before the turn around to walk back. All children who show a passport at the end of the walk will receive a small treat. The Passport For Change portion will take place during the CROP Hunger Walk registration from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Rogers shared an example of the activities that will be offered. “There are different activities and games to learn about the countries. We will do a food pantry relay race to show how the parish cupboard packs and sends food to people in our community. The food pantry gets 25 percent of the money raised,” Rogers said.

The CROP Hunger Walk consists of three different path lengths. The Egg Route runs approximately one mile long, the Veggies Route runs approximately three miles long and the Water Route runs approximately six miles long. All walks are marked at the halfway point, at which time walkers are invited to turn back around to meet at the start.

Rogers said she feels that the CROP Hunger Walk is an important event for the community. “I think this is so important for both all of the people who will benefit from the money we raised and the families, including my own, to learn and help others,” Rogers said.

Rogers said she especially sees the benefit for children participating in the walk. “I think that the children will learn a lot about other people around the world. They also learn that everyone can make a difference. The activities show them all the ways that CWS helps people,” Rogers said.

The Agawam/West Springfield CROP?Hunger Walk will celebrate 50 years of bringing awareness to the many causes supported by Church World Service in 2019. In 2018, Church World Service recognized the Agawam/West Springfield CROP Hunger Walk for raising $8,301.

To sign up for the Agawam/West Springfield Church World Service CROP Hunger Walk, visit www.crophungerwalk.org/agawamma. Sign-ups are also available via email by sending a message to AandWSCropWalk@gmail.com.

To participate in the Passport For Change event, please send an email to AandWSCropWalk@gmail.com to request a passport. Please email by April 21 to ensure all interested children can participate. Groups and Troops are welcome to participate with adult supervision.

The Agawam/West Springfield Crop Hunger Walk will begin at Feeding Hills Congregational Church, 21 Northwest St., on April 28 at 12 p.m. For more information, visit AandWSCropWalk on Facebook.

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