OTTUMWA —
Ottumwans hit the trails Sunday afternoon to raise awareness of hunger and to donate money and food to fight the battle locally.
First United Methodist Church hosted the 39th annual CROP walk Sunday afternoon.
Rick McFarland, coordinator of the walk, said CROP, or Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, started nationwide in 1946, with the first walk in 1969. Ottumwa hosted its first walk in 1973 and has been going strong ever since.
“It raises money and awareness of hunger locally, nationally and globally,” McFarland said.
He said 25 percent of the money raised will go toward the Ecumenical Lord’s Cupboard, which could purchase 5 to 6 tons of food.
The remaining 75 percent goes to Church World Service, the sponsor program which provides education on hunger and teaches people farming techniques to grow and raise their own food.
“There’s hunger globally because of ... weather, wars and famine,” McFarland said. “Here, there are natural disasters, such as hurricanes, which contribute short-term.”
In Ottumwa and Wapello County, McFarland said a higher unemployment rate has contributed to an increasing number of hungry individuals in the region.
Participants walked 3.5 miles through downtown Ottumwa and along the trails system.
“One of the reasons we’re walking 3.5 miles is because in third-world countries, often the women walk 3.5 miles just to get water every day,” McFarland said. “And they’re carrying 25 to 40 pounds of water.”
He said he was shooting for participants to raise at least $5,000. The most Ottumwa’s CROP walk has ever raised was more than $6,000.
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CROP Walk participants walked 3.5 miles Sunday, the same distance many in third-world countries walk each day just to get water. Chelsea Davis/The Courier
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