Penn-Trafford CROP Walk battles hunger on the (literal) battlefield

While client numbers at food banks locally and nationally have decreased since the peak of covid-19 infections in 2020, they are still higher than when the pandemic began.

That means every little bit of help is important, and about 30 people did their part Sunday, participating in the CROP Walk for Penn Township and Trafford residents at historic Bushy Run Battlefield.

The annual event takes place across the world, raising funds that are put to work battling hunger locally and internationally.

“We’re learning about evangelizing in church,” said Kenny Rugh, 10, of Jeannette, who was walking the historic grounds with his brother Ryland, 8, and mother, Amy.

“CROP” stands for “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty,” and donation proceeds from thousands of walks across the country are divided between local food pantries and the Church World Service, a nonprofit started shortly after World War II that works to feed the hungry and help those in need.

After the pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s event, the Rev. John Titus of First United Church of Christ said he and other local church ministers are working to spread the word and build it back up.

A quarter of the walk’s proceeds will be split between the Trafford Food Bank and St. Barbara Parish’s Food Bank. In addition to the 3.5-mile (and second, slightly shorter) walk at Bushy Run, organizers took a lesson from last year’s event and offered a virtual option for 2021.

Bryce Little, 17, of Harrison City managed a team of Scouts from Troop 230 and helped to organize and staff the CROP Walk.

“It’s a challenge balancing all the communication and all the different things you have to to set up,” Little said. “Talking to businesses, promoting to different churches — I’m ready to see it all come together today.”

Nationwide, more than 2,000 teams have registered to participate in CROP Hunger Walks this year.