Community to walk for IFC
By: Rose Anna Laudicina, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: City
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Sunday is the Chapel Hill-Carrboro CROP walk benefiting the Inter-Faith Council hunger-relief programs and the Church World Service.
Hannah Martin, a freshman from Wilson, said once she knew where the money was going, she wanted to participate. She volunteers at the IFC, entering data into the computer requests for food.
"I see requests from people that are homeless or barely surviving in their home, and I see how limited their funds can get." Martin said.
"I didn't realize this, but you can be homeless and still live in a home."
In the CROP walk, which stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, participants can walk as individuals or on teams and raise money for the organizations that provide food for people locally and around the world.
Seventy-five percent of the money raised goes to the Church World Service, which started the walk. The organization has a presence in more than 80 countries where it helps fight hunger by providing resources and education.
The other 25 percent goes to local IFC hunger-relief programs, such as the emergency food pantry and the community kitchen.
"These food programs help those with financial need," said Charles Williams, the assistant to the director of IFC and organizer of the walk.
"Many of these people we help work to support Orange County and UNC, and we help them get by month to month," he said.
Williams said people in the community show that they care about and support those in need when they come together to walk.
In addition to the walk, there is face painting, juggling, entertainment from three bands and food provided by UNC Health Care.
Last year the event was hindered by tornado warnings and bad weather, but it still managed to have 300 participants and raise $48,000. The year before, 650 walkers raised $60,000.
Those numbers make Williams believe the goal of reaching the million-dollar mark is obtainable.
While anyone can participate in the CROP Hunger Walk, Williams said the majority of participants are from church groups, UNC and the IFC.
The IFC Striders, a team headed by Williams, is made up of residents and clients of the IFC who have used or still use their services and want to give back.
"I have one man who walks, that uses our services, who raised $100 by himself last year," Williams said.
He added that those on the Striders team are usually sponsored by IFC employees or volunteers. But he said this man wanted to show his appreciation so much that he decided to raise the money himself.
"We walk because they walk," Martin said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND THE CROP WALK
Time: 1:30 p.m. Sunday for
registration; 2:30 p.m. start
Location: Carrboro Town Commons, Farmers' Market
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