CROP walk a reminder of others in need

FALLS VILLAGE — Walkers old and young, two-legged and four-legged, took part in the 28th annual Northwest Connecticut CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, Sept. 25.The Rev. Carl Franson, who has organized the walk for many years, estimated that about 240 people participate annually. Participants ranged from toddlers in strollers all the way up to seniors using walkers. Participants could walk a quarter mile, 5 miles or 10 miles. The acronym CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. The walk’s goal is to increase awareness of the struggles that people in other parts of the nation and the world endure just to get basic food and water.“About 25 percent of the funds raised this year will go to the Northwest Connecticut Food Bank to help feed hungry families,” Franson said. “The rest will be donated to the people of east Africa, who are experiencing a devastating drought. “Across much of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia more than 12 million people are struggling to survive the failure of much-needed seasonal rains. The scarcity of water and the skyrocketing price of food are contributing to widespread starvation.”CROP walks are the primary source of funds for the Northwest Connecticut Food Bank.Franson said in the 28 years of Northwest Connecticut CROP walks, more than a half million dollars has been raised.This year there were walking teams from most area schools including Hotchkiss, Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Indian Mountain School, Salisbury School and South Kent School. Many area churches also had walking teams. A number of walkers brought their dogs. Franson, a retired pastor who now works as the part-time minister at the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church, may be reached at 860-596-4159 or by email at cfranson417@comcast.net.