This year, 2007, is the 33rd Annual Washtenaw/ Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk.   The goal of the walk is  $60,000 with 500 walkers = $120 per walker. We are hoping to recruit  45+ groups to participate and are encouraging walkers to aim for a goal of $120 in pledges. The challenge is to match your best year over the last 2 years!

• 2005: 15 Walkers raised $1040.
• 2006:  9 Walkers raised $782.

Local Groups Receiving Funds (25% of the funds go to the following local groups):

Receiving 4%:

• AID in Milan:         AID in Milan provides a number of services to the hungry in Milan. From Meals on Wheels to a Food Pantry - AID provides at least 2 weeks worth of meals to over 80 families in need.

• St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program: In its 25^th year, the Breakfast Program continues to feed hungry children and adults their first meal of the day in Ann Arbor, every day of the year.

• Brown Chapel A.M.E. Good Samaritan Feeding Program: This program provides a hot lunch meal for families and individuals who are either homeless, or are of low income status. Also groceries are provided for those in need.

• SOS Community Services provide emergency food distribution, nutrition and cooking classes, a community garden, and referrals to other food and/or meal programs. SOS responds to over 2,500 emergency food requests yearly.

• Community Action Network:       CAN is a neighborhood-based group serving families in need. CAN provides afternoon meals for the children living at the Green Baxter Court and Hikone public housing sites.

Receiving 2.50%:

• Emmanuel House, Home for the Elderly:  EH operates 2 homes for elderly who have limited income, family resources, and are in need of 24 hour care. Both homes are staffed entirely by volunteers, no paid staff. Grant money will be used to meet the basic needs of the residents.

• Packard Community Clinic: Provides nutritionally at-risk patients with supplemental food and food vouchers.

Non-Perishable Canned Goods Food Offering Collected and Donated to:

• Peace Neighborhood Center: PNC Youth Programs serve over 300 children and youth and provide more than 18,000 meals. For many children, the food served at PNC is their primary meal. Canned goods will be used to supplement  the current food program.

Niger – “Thanks to the new well and the increased cultivation, we have more food for our family,” says Elhadj Moumouni, of Maito village, “and we are able to sell the extra to gain a little income.”  Moumouni and other villagers in Maito are growing onion, tomato, cabbage, okra and potatoes.  The villagers, who are leaning about growing techniques, plant health and community organizing, provided the labor for the well, with help from people of the nearby Mazoza village.  Communities in Kenya, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Gambia and Niger are participating in the Church World Service Africa Initiative Water for Life/Water for All program and gaining clean water and skills in ecosystem management.

Laos – 240 abandoned and orphaned children, ages five to 20, have food to eat and a bed in a comfortable dormitory at the CWS-supported Luang Prabang Orphanage.  Along with basic education, the children are leanring vocationskills such as carpentry, weaving and fish farming.  The students’ monthly government food stipend is supplemented by vegetables and fruits from gardens that CWS established and the children and orphanage staff maintain.

For more information about the International work of Church World Service, please visit:  www.churchworldservice.org.