FREQUENTLY ASKED CROP WALK QUESTIONS
(Provided by Church World Service)
Q.
What does CROP stand for?
When CROP began in 1947
(under the wing of Church World Service, which was founded in 1946), the
name was an acronym for the Christian Rural Overseas Program; its primary
mission was to help Midwest farm families to share their grain with hungry
neighbors in post-World War II Europe. As a Reflective of a program
that for several decades has been both urban and rural, CROP is no longer
an acronym; it is the name given to community, interfaith hunger education
and fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized
by 22 CWS/CROP regional offices across the U.S.
In some CWS/CROP regions, CROP
has come to mean Communities Reaching Out to People.
Q. When
was the first CROP WALK?
On October 17, 1969, a thousand
people in Bismarck, ND, walked in the first-ever CROP WALK and raised
$25,000 to help stop hunger. Several other CROP WALKS occurred soon thereafter,
and before long there were hundreds of CROP WALKS each year in communities
nationwide.
Q. How many
CROP WALKS are there?
Each year, some 2,000 communities
across the U.S. sponsor CROP WALKS.
Q. Where
do CROP WALK funds go?
CROP WALKS help to support
the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially the grassroots,
hunger-fighting development efforts of partner agencies in more than 80
countries. CROP WALKS help to provide tools of hope that empower people
to meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems,
to nutrition-enhancing Moringa trees, to technical training and micro-enterprise
loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development
priorities, their strengths and their needs -- something CWS has learned
through more than 50 years of working in partnership around the world.
In addition, each local CROP
WALK can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises to local
hunger-fighting programs.
Q. How do CROP WALKS help
out here at home?
This year CROP WALKS will
share more than $3.5 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens,
and other local efforts nationwide. This support is made possible when
local CROP WALKS choose our unique option of returning up to 25 percent
of what their CROP WALK raises to hunger-fighting programs in their own
community.
Q. What
else makes CROP WALKS special?
Because CROP WALKS are ecumenical,
interfaith, multi-cultural events, individual donors have the option of
designating their gifts to other approved international hunger-fighting
agencies. This option is unique to CROP events, and available for individual
sponsors only. Gifts not so designated go to support the worldwide ministry
of Church World Service.
Q. How do
I go about starting a CROP WALK in my community?
Call your CWS/CROP Regional
Office, toll-free 1-888-CWS-CROP (that's 1-888-297-2767), to find out
about the CROP WALK nearest you. If there isn't a CROP WALK in your area,
your CWS/CROP Regional Office has all the expertise and free promotional
materials to help you take the first steps to a successful, fulfilling
CROP WALK.
Q. What
is Church World Service?
Church World Service is
the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 35 denominations
that come together as the National Council of the Churches of Christ in
the U.S.In partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80
countries, CWS supports sustainable self-help development, meets emergency
needs, and helps address the root causes of poverty and powerlessness.
Within the U.S., Church World
Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees,
promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational
resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network
of local and global caring through participation in CROP WALKS, the TOOLS
OF HOPE Program, the CWS Blanket Program,
and the "Gift of the Heart" Kit Program.
Whether in CROP WALKS, through
congregational or denominational giving, individual giving, grants, wills,
or charitable gift annuities--people and groups who support the work of
Church World Service give in a spirit of oneness with neighbors near and
far.
Q. Are corporations
and businesses involved in CROP WALKS?
Nationally, upwards of 100
corporations match employee gifts and/or volunteer hours to the CROP WALK.
Locally, thousands of businesses and media outlets support their community's
CROP WALK, providing T-shirts and other supplies, turning out teams of
walkers -- and in many other ways too numerous to list.
Q. How
much of each dollar contributed goes toward overhead?
Over the last five years,
on average just over 17% of the funds contributed to Church World Service
has gone to management, fund raising, and information sharing.
Q. Besides
the CROP WALK, does Church World Service have other opportunities for
mission outreach?
Yes. The TOOLS OF HOPE Program
offers congregations and groups a way to share "tools" both large and
small with children and families in need. The CWS Blanket Program helps
make available blankets, bedding, tents and other shelter items when an
emergency or natural disaster occurs. Congregations and groups also get
involved through the "Gift of the Heart" Kit Program which provides recovery
kits -- such as Health Kits, School Kits, Clean-up Kits, and Baby Kits
-- that make a world of difference in emergency situations or areas of
ongoing great need. Information on any or all of these outreach opportunities
can be yours by calling toll-free 1-888-CWS-CROP (that's 1-888-297-2767).
For more information, please visit www.cropwalk.org - the central website sponsored by Church World Service.
A free newsletter for people interested in CROP Walks can be
found here.
CROP Walks are always looking for volunteers and walkers. Please contact one of the local representatives to offer your assistance.
© 2005 Lancaster County CROP Walk for the Hungry
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