Crop Walk

Hayesville First United Methodist Church

What does CROP stand for?

When CROP began in 1947 (under the wing of Church World Service, which was founded in 1946), the name was an acronym for the Christian Rural Overseas Program; its primary mission was to help Midwest farm families to share their grain with hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. Reflective of a program that for several decades has been both urban and rural, CROP is no longer an acronym; it is the name given to community, interfaith hunger education and fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by 22 CWS/CROP regional offices across the U.S.

In some CWS/CROP regions, CROP has come to mean Communities Reaching Out to People.

When was the first CROP WALK?

On October 17, 1969, a thousand people in Bismarck, ND, walked in the first-ever CROP WALK and raised $25,000 to help stop hunger. Several other CROP WALKS occurred soon thereafter, and before long there were hundreds of CROP WALKS each year in communities nationwide.

How many CROP WALKS are there?

Each year, some 2,000 communities across the U.S. sponsor CROP WALKS.

Where do CROP WALK funds go?

CROP WALKS help to support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially the grassroots,hunger-fighting development efforts of partner agencies in more than 80 countries. CROP WALKS help to provide tools of hope that empower people to meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to nutrition-enhancing Moringa trees, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs -- something CWS has learned through some 58 years of working in partnership around the world.
In addition, each local CROP WALK can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises to local hunger-fighting programs.
How do CROP WALKS help out here at home?
This year CROP WALKS will share nearly $4 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens, and other local efforts nationwide. This support is made possible when local CROP WALKS choose our unique option of returning up to 25 percent of what their CROP WALK raises to hunger-fighting programs in their own community.

What else makes CROP WALKS special?

Because CROP WALKS are ecumenical, interfaith, multi-cultural events, individual donors have the option of designating their gifts to other approved international hunger-fighting agencies. This option is unique to CROP events, and available for individual sponsors only. Gifts not so designated go to support the worldwide ministry of Church World Service.

How do I go about starting a CROP WALK in my community?

Call your CWS/CROP Regional Office, toll-free 1-888-CWS-CROP (that's 1-888-297-2767), to find out about the CROP WALK nearest you. If there isn't a CROP WALK in your area, your CWS/CROP Regional Office has all the expertise and free promotional materials to help you take the first steps to a successful, fulfilling CROP WALK.

What is Church World Service?

Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations, providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in more than 80 countries.
Within the U.S., Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP WALKS, the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program, and the "Gift of the Heart" Kit Program.
Whether in CROP WALKS, through congregational or denominational giving, individual giving, grants, wills, or charitable gift annuities--people and groups who support the work of Church World Service give in a spirit of oneness with neighbors near and far.

Are corporations and businesses involved in CROP WALKS?

Nationally, upwards of 200 corporations match employee gifts and/or volunteer hours to the CROP WALK. Locally, thousands of businesses and media outlets support their community's CROP WALK, providing T-shirts and other supplies, turning out teams of Walkers -- and in many other ways too numerous to list.
How much of each dollar contributed goes toward overhead?
Over the last five years, on average just over 18.5% of the funds contributed to Church World Service has gone to management, fund raising, and information sharing.
Besides the CROP WALK, does Church World Service have other opportunities for mission outreach?
Yes. The TOOLS & BLANKETS Program offers congregations and groups a way to share "tools" both large and small with children and families in need, including blankets, bedding, tents and other shelter items when an emergency or natural disaster occurs. Congregations and groups also get involved through the "Gift of the Heart" Kit Program which provides recovery kits -- such as Health Kits, School Kits, Baby Kits, Clean-up Buckets, and the new Heart-to-Heart Kids Kits -- that make a world of difference in emergency situations or areas of ongoing great need. Information on any or all of these outreach opportunities can be yours by calling toll-free 1-888-CWS-CROP (that's 1-888-297-2767).