Sunday marks the 36th annual Martha’s Vineyard CROP Hunger Walk, a three-mile walk to raise money to fight hunger on the Island and around the world.
At 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, walkers backed by local sponsors will make the journey along Beach Road from St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven to the drawbridge, and a large portion of proceeds from their efforts will go to Island Grown Initiative.
CROP Hunger Walks have been taking place nationally for 57 years and are associated with the Church World Service, a religious group working to alleviate poverty, hunger and disasters around the world. The Island walk will be one of about 500 separate CROP walks taking place nationwide.
The Island’s fundraising goal is $40,000, 25 per cent of which will go to Island Grown Initiative and its food equity programs, including the Island Food Pantry. The other 75 per cent will be distributed worldwide.
Organizer Woody Bowman told the Gazette that Island CROP Walks have raised over $738,000 since they started, with more than $184,000 of that supporting food security on the Island.
“The impact is pretty significant over the years,” he said.
Mr. Bowman participated in his first CROP Hunger Walk in 1979 and has been heading up the organizing committee on the Island for 12 years. He said several Island organizations will have teams participating in this year’s walk, including churches, the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association and Island Grown Initiative.
Food equity work is a big part of Mr. Bowman’s life. He enjoys being able to make a difference close to home.
“This is something I can do on the Island that has a direct impact on the Island and also around the world,” Mr. Bowman said.
Participants can sign up for the Martha’s Vineyard CROP Hunger walk as an individual or part of a team and make donations at: events.crophungerwalk.org/chw/event/marthasvineyard