Last Sunday, more than 1,200 people walked to end hunger at the 25th Annual Chicago CROP Hunger Walk to support the hunger-fighting efforts of ONE Partner Church World Service.

An unusually warm day for the city this time of year, walkers took their “Stop Hunger” signs on a route that included both neighborhoods and the lake front. Volunteers from the ONE Campaign also attended to collect signatures for the declaration as well as for a petition for Senator Durbin, asking him to co-sponsor the Jubilee Act.

Walkers linked their names together with signed petitions asking for Sen. Durbin to help “break the chains” of poverty. Upon returning from their meander, walkers also signed a “thank you” sign for Senator Obama for his leadership in co-sponsoring the Jubilee Act. Then, the Jesse White tumblers, all donned ONE bracelets and performed their acrobatics for the jubilant crowd.

Funds raised here in Chicago and in CROP Hunger Walks across the U.S. will make a difference in the lives of people in some 80 countries around the world – from working with AIDS orphans in Africa, to aiding farm families in Central America, and even assisting Indiana tornado survivors and Katrina hurricane survivors here in the States. CROP Walks truly are “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.”

-Tessa Barnes, Congregational Outreach Coordinator, Church World Service, Great Rivers/Chicago Office and ONE member
www.cropwalk.org