Many turned out for Red Bank Crop Hunger Walk
The 27th annual Red Bank Area Crop Hunger Walk had another big crowd for the walk through Fair Haven, Red Bank and Little Silver on Sunday, Oct. 21.

A warm and sunny day found well over 1,200 participants of all ages walking, running or working as volunteers to raise funds for 15 local partner programs working to prevent hunger here and in 80 countries through global partners.

A bonus this year was the colorful Halloween Parade, coming down Broad Street as workers passed by. Over two tons of food (rice, beans and peanut butter) was collected and distributed to 30 pantries. A huge barrel of food came from Calvary Baptist Church, and about 20 big boxes from Rumson Country Day School, where the students calculated the grams of food collected as a math project. Red Bank Senior Center Director Freda Terry celebrated her birthday by walking with her husband, and the senior center van brought tired walkers back to school.

This year's ribbon cutting featured the hard working team of Red Bank Catholic Sisters Joan Marie and Regina, and students Erin Hickey, Laura Iwanyk and Alexa Procaccino. The 22- member-student Leadership Committee has been active in 12 high schools as well as youth groups raising awareness and participation. MAST students staffed a water stop, as did RFH Key Club students.

Walkers did stretching exercises led by Wellness Solutions, to tunes provided by J & J Music, and benefited from chair massages after the walk, for a $1 donation to Crop. Eighty participating groups included churches, synagogues, schools and civic groups.

Crop Walks make possible the immediate disaster relief response of Church World Service and support tools of hope such as well drilling, better agricultural practices, education, health care and provision of micro loans for small businesses, all leading to better lives for millions. This 60-year- old ministry sponsors Crop Walks all over the US.

Red Bank Crop walkers come together from more than a dozen communities in an effort to feed and house hungry neighbors. Preliminary pledge results look excellent for raising well over our goal of $130,000.

Janie Schildge

Colts Neck