Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing the world today. According to Feedingamerica.org, there are about 600,440 people who are struggling with hunger in South Carolina. Of those 600,440, 178,710 of them are children. About one in every eight people deals with hunger and one in six children struggle with not having enough food. People who are facing hunger in South Carolina reportedly need $291,600,000 more per year to meet their food needs.
This year was the 43rd anniversary of South Carolina’s CROP Hunger Walk. The Hunger Walk is a community-based event held in cities and towns across the United States to help raise funds to support the global mission of Church World Service, which is a faith-based organization that helps communities around the world through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. 25 percent of the funds raised are returned to the host communities to support local hunger fighting efforts.
According to the CROP Hunger walk virtual kickoff video, “By walking in the CROP Hunger walk, you support the hunger fighting work of CWS in thirty countries around the world.”
The event is usually held on Winthrop University’s campus with a large group walk, however, due to the pandemic, it was instead held on Facebook Live on Nov. 1. Participants who wanted to do the walk were encouraged to walk alone or in small groups outdoors. One of the events was a Canstruction competition in which youth groups, college student groups and other groups who participated in the walk created sculptures out of canned food items. Teams were encouraged to post a picture and vote for their favorite display on the York County CROP Walk Facebook Page. Winthrop’s own Macfeat kindergarten was the winner of the Canstruction contest.
Though the event could not be held in person like it usually is, people still made sure to participate and donate.
“With COVID-19 upending our lives, keeping us literally separated from our neighbors nearby, we are reimagining the walk and going virtual. As you step up to end hunger, alone and online, you walk in spirit with those who must walk to get clean water to wash their hands, or to find food for their families, or to find a safe place for their children. This year, more than ever, you show we can still lift each other up and comfort each other no matter the distance,” according to the CROP Hunger walk virtual Kickoff.
“Whether you are walking and raising money, or you donate and support others in their walking, we are all together in spirit,” said John Scogan, the national community engagement manager for Church World Service and CROP Hunger walks. “50,000 of us walking across the United States and raising millions of dollars to help the most vulnerable, near and far. That is a tremendous effort.”
After the walk, all of the canned food items were donated to local food pantries. In 41 years, York County’s CROP Hunger walk has raised over $800,000, with more than $200,000 remaining with local agencies.
“Each year 25 percent of the money raised from the CROP Hunger walk goes to fight hunger locally. We partner with nearly 2,000 local hunger agencies in the United States,” according to the CROP Hunger walk virtual Kickoff.
The funds for this year’s walk were donated to help support the local efforts of Pilgrims’ Inn, Tender Hearts Ministries and the Clover Area Assistance Center.
Photo courtesy Church World Services
