32nd annual Santa Paula CROP Walk

On Sunday, March 8, 37 walkers checked in at the Railroad Plaza Gazebo for the 32nd annual Santa Paula CROP Walk. Sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), walkers carried on “a tradition of help, a legacy of hope.” Marching under clear skies, the walkers had some wind to blow them along their 10-kilometer journey. Participating individually and from local churches, walkers brought in approximately $4,000 in initial pledges. Churches sponsoring walkers included El Buen Pastor United Methodist, St. Sebastian, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Universalist Unitarian, Heritage Valley, Emmanuel Lutheran and St. Paul’s Episcopal. Pledges were collected from congregants, co-workers, friends and family. A portion of the funds raised - 25% - will remain here in Santa Paula to be used for programs that provide food, clothing and shelter for those in need.CROP Walks are ecumenical, interfaith community events. Undesignated funds help support the worldwide programs of Church World Service. Sponsors of walkers may also designate their gifts to other approved international hunger-fighting agencies, including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, American Friends Service Committee, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Baptist World Aid/Baptist World Alliance, CARE, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Heifer International, Project HOPE, Lutheran World Relief, Medical Assistance Program (MAP), MAZON, Mennonite Central Committee, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Outreach International, Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and World Relief/National Association of Evangelicals.