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In this day and age, it is shocking that there is still so much hunger in the world. What is even more shocking is that this pandemic spreads not only throughout third world countries, but is extremely evident in our own backyard. Luckily, Crisis Control and Sunnyside Ministries have been working diligently for decades to help eradicate this situation with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County CROP Hunger Walk.

“CROP started in 1947 when Midwest farm families shared their crops with the hungry in Europe and Asia after World War II,” said Meghan Parsons, Co-Site Coordinator and Graphic Designer for the Walk. “Then in the fall of 1969, hundreds of people in Bismarck, ND, raised $25,000 to help stop hunger in the first ever CROP Hunger Walk. Several other walks followed, and soon after, there were hundreds of these walks each year in communities all over the country. There are about 2,000 CROP Hunger Walks across the country each year. Our own Winston-Salem/Forsyth County CROP Hunger Walk is the 5th largest walk in the nation, raising more than $106,000 in 2010. The largest walk is in Charlotte, NC, the 2nd largest is in Greensboro and the 3rd largest is in Durham. Nearly 23,000 North Carolinians walk in CROP Hunger Walks each year and raise more than $1.2 million annually.”

Though hunger is not only prevalent in North Carolina, the citizens of this state do more than any other to promote change in the status of hunger throughout the world. Seventy-five percent of the money raised in the walk is used by Church World Service to focus on worldwide hunger. “Church World Service is the sponsor of the CROP Hunger Walk,” said Parsons. “They work with partners in the U.S. and around the world to build interfaith and intercultural coalitions to eradicate hunger and poverty and promote peace and justice. They support sustainable grassroots development,  disaster relief and refugee assistance.” The remaining 25% is split between Sunnyside Ministries and Crisis Control Ministry to help local hunger issues. “Since 1979, more than $250,000 has stayed in our community to help our neighbors in need,” said Parsons.

Read more on page 4 in the October Issue of FF magazine