"There's hunger everywhere," said Cheryl Zook Justice, CROP Walk recruiter for Akron Mennonite Church. "We like that CROP (provides funds) both locally and globally." Justice added that members of Akron Mennonite are very involved with service agencies that provide food and housing, so it makes sense to take part in CROP. "We heavily encourage youth to participate," added Justice. "It's tangible."

Akron community members have banded together with individuals from the Conestoga Valley area and the ELANCO area to take part in the 46th New Holland/Leola CROP Walk, which will take place at the New Holland Memorial Community Park, in the 400 block of Jackson Street, New Holland, on Sunday, Oct. 15. The walk will leave the Rotary Pavilion at 1:30 p.m. Participants are asked to meet at the park at 1 p.m. to complete the registration process. They may walk up to 3 miles following a route through Garden Spot Village (GSV).

In addition to Akron Mennonite, local churches that take part include Cedar Grove Presbyterian, Ranck's United Methodist, St. John Center Lutheran, the Community Church at Garden Spot Village, and Trinity Lutheran, all in the ELANCO area, as well as Leola United Methodist Church (LUMC) and Zion Lutheran in Leola.

CROP Walks, which have been in existence nationwide for more than 50 years, are sponsored by Church World Service (CWS). According to CWS, CROP Walk funds help transform communities by bringing food and water to people in need in several countries. Funds raised by CROP help dig wells to provide water for drinking and agriculture. In some countries, people travel an average of 6 miles a day to obtain clean water. The availability of clean water is especially important because when individuals do not have to walk miles to obtain water, they can use the time to work, build a business, or take advantage of educational opportunities.

But CROP does not serve only those overseas. Local food pantries benefit by receiving 25% of the funds raised by the CROP Hunger Walk nearest them. In ELANCO, the CrossNet Food and Nutrition Center in New Holland received $500 in 2022, and the Northeastern Lancaster County Food Bank in Terre Hill also received funds. In the Conestoga Valley area, Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS) Food Bank received nearly $1,300 last year.

Krisana Poontajak, pastor of Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church and one of the organizers of the New Holland/Leola CROP Walk, said that each year the goal is to raise $10,000. Last year, $7,300 was raised, and in 2021, the event brought in $8,000.

George Weaver, who recruits participants at LUMC, has had success encouraging walkers and fundraisers at his church. He maintains that a few dedicated people, including a coordinator and a supportive pastor, are key. Those who wish to become church recruiters may email pastorkris@frontier.com or call 717-354-5573. Information about the walk may be found at http://www.crophungerwalk.org. Those who wish to register teams made up of youth group or family members or co-workers may do so at https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/event/newhollandpa.