On a beautiful, blustery afternoon, Sunday, Oct. 16, 91 Vineyarders started off from Good Shepherd’s St. Augustine’s Church hall in Vineyard Haven at 2 p.m., bound for the Trinity United Methodist Parish House in the Oak Bluffs Camp Ground. There, they were greeted by the Rev. Richard Rego and church ladies with delicious refreshments and comforting facilities. Many accepted rides back to St. Augustine’s and more refreshments. The Rev. Cathlin Baker from the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury made the trek to Oak Bluffs with her two children under the age of eight. The ages of walkers ranged from the very young to those in their late 80s. One resident from Windemere did the walk, and there were many high school students as well.

This 21st annual Vineyard CROP walk is sponsored by the Island Clergy Association, the Island Food Pantry and the Vineyard Committee on Hunger. The Island Food Pantry will receive 25 per cent of the money raised in the walk.

drawbridge walkers cars
Walkers cross drawbridge en route from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs. — Ivy Ashe

CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, and was set up by churches to help them and others of faith and good will respond to the great needs of the poor. There are approximately 2,000 of these annual walks in the USA. In the last 20 years, $316,107 was raised on the Vineyard.

Money from the hundreds of people who sponsored the walkers is due at St. Augustine’s Church by Sunday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. One ambitious walker raised almost $3,000 from sponsors, and several generous sponsors have promised to add 20 cents for every dollar raised. In cash and pledges, $13,150 was raised on Oct. 16.

— Rev. Alden Besse