The annual Lancaster CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 64 Hershey Ave., Lancaster. Registration will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the start of the walk at 2 p.m. This year will mark Lancaster's 50th CROP Walk, and the celebration of the anniversary will occur both before and after the event.

The event is one of the numerous walks that are held across the United States throughout the year that share a primary goal: raising awareness and funds for poverty and hunger worldwide. When Lancaster's walk first began at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the course of the walk led participants through the city and out of the West End. This year, walkers will travel to Buchanan Park and along College Avenue to Pearl Street, ending back at the church.

"As we're walking through these neighborhoods, people will ask us what we're doing and often donate," said Chris Rankin, a longtime participant of the walk who has served as the chair of the planning committee for the last six years. "Some people have to walk for miles to get food, clean water and other basic necessities. We walk because they walk." All of the proceeds from this year's walk will benefit two local nonprofits: 25% will be donated to Lancaster Food Hub for use locally and 75% will go to Church World Service of Lancaster. Last year's CROP Walk raised over $34,000, and the goal for this year's walk has been set at $50,000. Donations may be made directly to walkers during the event or online at https://tinyurl.com/cropwalkdonate.

The first CROP Walks were held in Bismarck, N.D., in 1969 and York in 1970. In the decades since, the movement has spread across hundreds of communities and raised millions of dollars. This year, the Lancaster event will celebrate its 50th anniversary and recognize the Rev. Alex Veronis, who served as the chairman of the walk for 41 years. Veronis is the longest-serving chairman in the history of the CROP Walk, and first became involved in 1973, when participants of the walk passed through Lancaster on their way from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Veronis and his family hiked along Route 30 with the walkers, and he chaired the event in Lancaster the following year.

Celebrations will begin prior to the event and resume after the conclusion of the walk, and will include food and music. Matt Barcaro of WGAL will be the event's master of ceremonies and Rick Santos, CEO of Church World Service, and Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace will be in attendance.

The CROP Walk offers a variety of ways for people to participate. Families can walk the route with younger children in strollers alongside people who wish to run the course. For those unable to complete the nearly 3 miles, a short walk consisting of four laps around the parking lot of Annunciation Church will be available. "My favorite aspect of the CROP Walk is that it brings people together from various faith traditions to work toward a common goal," said Rankin. "It's an intergenerational event; I come with my three kids. There's a way for everyone to participate."

For more information, visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org.