Bread for the World, CROP Walk: An Enduring Presence in New Mexico

Isotopes mascot Orbit is often seen at the CROP Walk

This is a big weekend for anti-hunger activities in Albuquerque. On Saturday, October 25, we have our Bread Rising in New Mexico event to celebrate Bread for the World's 40th birthday and 30 years of presence in  New Mexico. On Sunday, October 26, dozens of people of faith will participate in the CROP Walk, which has taken place in Albuquerque for at least as long as Bread for the World has been here (and maybe longer) The two activities complement each other very nicely, since Bread is focused on anti-hunger advocacy and efforts to change the system, and CROP Walk (a project of the national organization Church World Service). has done a great job of raising funds each year for hunger and disaster relief.

The Albuquerque CROP Walk is just one of many hunger walks scheduled in communities around the state this year. Groups in Curry County, the Four Corners,, Las Vegas and Gallup already held their hunger walks in the past few weeks, and others are scheduled in Los Alamos, Las Cruces and Carlsbad in October and November.  A group in Roswell plans to have a  CROP Walk in that community in southeastern New Mexico this spring. See full New Mexico schedule

St. Paul Lutheran Church walkers (Photo: Church World Service)

A northern route in 2014
Many churches around the city have served as starting and ending points for the local CROP Walk, including Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Central United Methodist Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Second Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and others..One year the CROP Walk was held on the  Albuquerque West Side, but I don't recall which church was the starting point. This year, the walk will take place in the northern part of town,with participants leaving Holy Cross Lutheran Church (6901 Wyoming Blvd.) and walking 3.3 miles around the perimeter trail of Albuquerque Academy and Hoffmantown Church. Registration begins at 1:15 p.m., with the walk starting at 2:00 p.m. There will be a soup dinner at 4:00 p.m.  For more information contact Judy Gibbs

Participants are raising money two ways,  1) through direct appeals to their friends, neighbors and fellow church member and online. Online donations stood at more than $4,000 as of  Oct. 21. Click here to donate online   Register online (You can walk with a church or organization or as an individual). Last year, participants--including more than 25 faith communities and businesses--raised $23,768.00, almost a 30% increase over 2012  Will there be another increase this year? One-fourth of the money raised stays in the community, with funds donated this year to the Rio Grande Food Project and Project Share.  The other 75% of the funds will help CWS anti-hunger and disaster relief efforts in our country and around the globe.