Rickaby
The Abington Area Crop Hunger Walk was held on Sunday, Oct. 2.
It is an event hosted by the Abington Ecumenical Ministerium.
The walk which consisted of individual walkers and teams began at the Dalton Fire Company. The walk continued along the Countryside Conservancy’s Trolley Trail for three miles. The goal was to raise $10,000.
Sponsors for the event include Eckel Farms, Frist Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, Rotary Club of the Abington’s and Scranton Label.
Weis Markets provided refreshments.
Karen Rickaby, the Abington Area Crop Hunger Walk co-chair, had this to say about the crop walk.
“A Crop Hunger Walk uses money raised around the globe to not just feed hungry people but to offer education, training and tools to help the people plant, grow and raise their own crops in order to sustain themselves in the future. The first Crop Walk began in 1969 and since then there have been hundreds of communities to raise millions of dollars to eradicate hunger and poverty. Because of COVID concerns, this was the first year we’ve been able to have the Abington Area Crop Hunger Walk. Although the walk was cancelled, the global food crises was not cancelled. In fact, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the pandemic and other disasters, the need is much greater. Millions are on the brink of famine.”
According to the Crop Walk web site, money raised can buy four months of meals, a thousand mango trees, water filter for a home or two months of groceries.
“The Crop Walk is a reminder that many less fortunate people have to walk miles for basic needs especially clean water. We should be grateful for what we have and are willing to reach out to others,” said Brenda Spangenberg, committee member Abington Area Crop Walk.
“The Crop Walk is a microcosm of Christian Service. We get to enjoy the beauty of nature, and we hike through the trail while raising support for persons who are in need of their daily meal We are blessed and a blessing at the same time,” said Jim Hollister, a committee member and pastor of the Countryside Community Church, a United Methodist Fellowship.
“Crop Walk helps fight hunger locally and globally by working and walking together. We can achieve more in reaching a common goal. Walk, give and change the world,” said Holly Gilpin a committee member of the crop walk.
Sue Youtz, co-chair of the Abington Crop Walk, had this to say about the walk.
“The Hunger Crop Walk is organized by volunteers with the Abington Ecumenical Ministerium. It is a perfect opportunity to give back not only to local food pantries but also to offer support on a global level for families with food insecurities. This outreach provides education to empower people with ability to grow their own food.”
“We are a blessed people, but we have a responsibility to recognize and help fulfill the needs of our community and in the world. Thoughts and prayers are wonderful and needed, but we are hoping that those thoughts and prayers lead to further action. This is an opportunity to show our future generations they can make a difference in their community and beyond one step at a time. Proverbs 22:9: The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor,” said Rickaby.
Nancy and Ed Thompson, Sue Burke and Rev. Dr. Lou Divis were also committee members.
Twenty-five percent of funds raised were evenly split among the Dalton Food Pantry, Northern Lackawanna Food Share, Friends of the Poor, Keystone Mission and St. Francis of Assisi in Scranton.
