CROP Walk ’96 Reaps Funds to Fight Hunger

More than 200 people hit the streets of Sherman Oaks on Sunday afternoon to help fight hunger in the San Fernando Valley and throughout the world.

Walkers from about 36 churches participated in CROP Walk ’96. CROP stands for Communities Reaching Out to People. The group raised more than $17,000.

The walk, held annually at 2,000 locations nationwide, is organized by Church World Services, a New York-based group that raises funds for hunger relief. Money raised by the walkers, who signed up sponsors in advance, goes to help refugees, assist in disasters and famines and aid hunger-fighting efforts across the country.

“We want to help the hungry and the homeless in the San Fernando Valley as well as internationally in such countries as Bosnia and Rwanda,” said Lee Fournier, who coordinated the local walk which began at the Congregational Church of the Chimes in Sherman Oaks.

“It’s a good cause that makes you realize there’s not just hunger locally but globally too,” said Barry A. Smedberg, executive director of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, which receives part of the funds raised by the walk. “It’s also a good fund-raiser because it allows entire families to get involved.”

Such was the case for Marguerite Minor, who attends the First Presbyterian Church of Encino. “I’m walking today with my daughter and some other children from our church so that hopefully they’ll understand that giving money is one thing but doing something concrete like walking to raise money is an important lesson to learn,” Minor said.

Last year’s local walk drew 300 participants and also raised $17,000, of which 75% was given to groups to fight hunger abroad. The remaining 25% went to two programs overseen by the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, including the Food Pantry Coalition and Meals on Wheels. Nationwide, the event raised $15 million.