Ortonville- In 1990, Sue Howard traveled to Mexico City, where she saw the devastating effects of an earthquake that had struck years before.
But she also saw the efforts to help those left homeless by the disaster? efforts made possible by money raised through CROP Walk.
Now, Howard is preparing for the 26th annual Ortonville CROP Walk, with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the walk starting at 2 p.m., Sept. 17, at the Ortonville United Methodist Church, 93 Church St.
Howard is a founding member of the Ortonville CROP Walk, which she says gives local people a chance to participate in something that benefits people all over the world and in the community. Walkers can obtain a sponsor sheet from area churches including OUMC, Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, St. Anne Catholic Church and Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church. Church World Service receives 75 percent of the proceeds to support hunger relief and the root causes of poverty, while the remaining 25 percent goes to the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund (OCEF) food pantry. Any size donation is welcome by sponsors, and gifts can also be designated to specific hunger relief organizations.
‘We live well and this (CROP Walk) is to help others live well,? says Howard.
The 3.5 mile walk goes all around the village, except for a trek on the sidewalk to St. Anne Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road. The walk will finish back at Ortonville United Methodist Church with refreshments and socializing in the fellowship hall.
For those who are unable to walk, Howard invites them to rock? in a rocking chair that is. Rockers will be set up at the church.
When the Ortonville CROP Walk began 26 years ago, Howard says there were about 200 walkers and about $6,000 was raised for hunger relief. Although the number of walkers has decreased to about 100 because of other walks, etc., the village event still made more than $7,000 last year. During the past 25 years, the Ortonville community has sent $207, 025 to Church World Service from walks, fasts, etc., $51, 756 of which was returned to the OCEF pantry.
‘This year, if we can equal that amount of money, we’ll be very pleased, and we hope we can surpass it,? says Howard. ‘OCEF is desperately in need of funding right now. We’ve never had so many people (asking for assistance).?
For more information, call Howard at (248) 627-3111.