NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County CROP Hunger Walk is coming up Oct. 13 in Hutchinson.
"The CROP Hunger Walk here in in Reno County is one of 2,000 crop hunger walks sponsored by Church World Service just in our nation," said Eileen Porter with the walk. "This has been kind of a long-term effort here in Reno County. We have a number of churches involved and we have just folks who are not affiliated with any particular community, but are affiliated with Reno County and want to help the folks who live here."
A significant portion of the dollars will assist local organizations.
"Twenty-five percent of what we raise and we're looking at a goal of $9,000 this year, stays local," Porter said. "It is divided by the Reno County Food Bank and the Christian Soup Ministry."
In August, according to Penny Taapken, of the Reno County Food Bank, they served 1696 people at the Hutchinson location. Of the 611 families served, 80 were new. That is, they had never been served before. The number of new families per month has doubled in the last few years.
Even when both parents are working, some families cannot afford rent, utilities, and food, let alone other expenses. Some families of four or five people move in with another family to share expenses. This means that households are larger, and those families need food.
The Reno County Food Bank also serves 200 families a month at the Arlington Food Bank and 80 at the Turon Food Bank, while assisting food banks in Sylvia and Pretty Prairie.
Taapken gets some free food from the Kansas Food Bank (KFB), but she has to buy most of it from the KFB or local grocers, some of whom also donate produce.
The walk is also an opportunity to join together with those overseas that need to walk to get food or water.
"We will actually meet at Rice Park at 1:30 p.m. for registration," Porter said. "Then we'll walk at 2:00 p.m. That is up to 3 miles, folks can walk as long as far as they want. The idea is to walk in solidarity with people who are in need both here at home, and around the world. Globally 75% of the money will go to help farmers overseas who are in great need or to dig wells for people who have no water."
To donate, walk, or for more information, contact Porter or go online to https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/hutchinsonks.
Bring a donation Sunday or make a check to CWS/CROP and send it to Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Dr., Hutchinson, 67502. Thank you!