by Monica Schwarze
Staff Writer
Despite a slow start and the absence of a Protestant campus minister, ULV will host the 22nd annual Crop Walk for the Hungry on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 12:30 p.m.
Crop Walk, a sponsored walk for the hungry in the Pomona Valley and worldwide, is organized each year by the Pomona-Inland Valley Council of Churches (PIVCC). Local churches, as well as schools and service organizations, are encouraged to participate in Crop Walk.
“We expect 1,200 walkers, and we’re hoping to make $65,000, which is more than we usually make,” said Crop Walk organizer Mary Kashmar.
Proceeds from Crop Walk go to the PIVCC’s hunger program, which serves both local and international hunger needs.
Each year, the council looks at the specific hunger needs in the world and sends about 75 percent of Crop Walk proceeds to developing countries struggling with famine and malnutrition. In the past, seeds, food and funds have been sent to Africa and South America.
“This year we will probably be sending aid to Bosnia,” said Kashmar. “Each year, the council looks at what the specific need is.”
What makes Crop Walk unique is that 25 percent of the proceeds earned go toward abating hunger in the local community. The council has food banks in Ontario, Pomona, San Dimas and Claremont. Proceeds from Crop Walk are divided equally among the different banks. In the past, the council has served over 64,000 hungry people in the local community.
“The people that come to us really are the working poor,” said Kashmar. “They are working individuals who just need extra assistance at the end of the month with food.”
Each participant will be asked to bring at least one can of food to the walk to further aid the mission of the council’s hunger program. They will also be able to observe the PIVCC farmer’s market, which works to provide a source of revenue to local farmers and at the same time gives the local poor a chance to buy fresh produce at a reduced price.
This year’s Crop Walk will be held in conjunction with the kickoff of the YWCA “Week Without Violence.” Kashmar said that the council chose to make this event part of the walk because “we see hunger as a form of violence against families.”
The opening ceremonies of the walk will honor Temple Beth Israel’s late Rabbi Earl Kaplan, an avid walk participant who passed away last year. “He was always one of our strongest supporters in Ontario,” said Kashmar, who arranged for the Temple’s new Rabbi to say a few words about his predecessor before the walk.
Schools and churches taking part in Crop Walk take turns hosting the event. This year’s walk will be hosted by ULV.
The walk will begin at 1 p.m. in front of the University Chapel, where Channel 4 weatherman Christopher Nance will be on hand to cut the ribbon that will officially begin the walk.
From the Chapel, participants will walk to White Avenue and back down Third Street. The walk will end back at the chapel, where walkers will be given water and neon Crop Walk shoelaces.
Individuals and groups from ULV have taken part in Crop Walk many times, but this is only the second time that ULV has hosted the event, and the turn out is expected to be high.
Dr. Dan Campana, chair of religion and philosophy, is organizing Crop Walk participation at the University.
“I believe this is a very important statement for the University to be involved in,” said Dr. Campana. “Somewhere, we’ve got to take a stand and determine what we’re going to contribute. What we’re doing now is an example of one of the things that shows we’re a part of our community.”
He said that although there is usually “a pretty good group” of La Verne students walking, this year’s turnout is expected to be especially high.
One of the groups that will be walking this year is the University’s pilot service learning program, an experimental class that combines lessons in world issues with practical experience in public service.
Since the service program’s emphasis this year is on hunger issues, the six students in the program are expected to attend the walk.
Dr. Teresa Bader-Hull, director of general education programs, believes that the lessons she has taught in the pilot service program have encouraged students to take part in Crop Walk.
“The issue of hunger hits home because that’s the particular issue the service class is studying this semester,” said Dr. Bader-Hull. “This particular issue seems very timely, and the Crop Walk is a way for the students to make a difference. It’s worked very nicely with our class.”
Dr. Campana is encouraged by the proposed participation of the service program students and of other clubs on campus.
“One of the things that always helps is if our clubs on campus get behind the issue, especially now, since we have no real Protestant campus ministry,” said Dr. Campana.
This is Dr. Campana’s first year of organizing University Crop Walk participation. Rev. Judy Georges, who served as Protestant campus minister from 1991-95, had previously organized University Crop Walk activities.
Georges resigned last year to pursue a degree at UC Berkeley, leaving Dr. Campana in charge of Crop Walk.
“We were sad to see her [Georges] go,” said Kashmar. “But, she turned it over to Dan and there has been no glitch. He’s worked the Crop Walk for two years, so he understands what we’re doing.”
Kashmar hopes that, even though Crop Walk features music, decorations and “a festive atmosphere,” service will remain the focus of the event.
“We choose to walk because other people must walk to get food,” she said. “Walkers remember that. It gives a very special feel to the event.”
