About the CROP Hunger Walk
The CROP Hunger Walk (often referred to simply as the CROP Walk) is a community-based fundraising event where participants walk to raise money to end hunger, both globally and locally. Presbyterian Church of Barrington is one of nine local churches participating in this year’s walk on Sunday, October 11th. The one mile or five K will start at 1 PM at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on Ela Street in Barrington.
All donations – whether you walk, run, watch Bears/Packers game at Morretti’s, or stay home – ALL donations are WELCOMED!
CROP Hunger Walk Facts
- What is CROP Walk?
Origins: It originally stood for Christian Resource for Off-Farm Provision, established in 1947 to help post-World War II Europe rebuild its agricultural capacity. Today, it operates primarily as a sponsored walking event.
Purpose: Funds raised go toward sustainable community development, disaster relief, food security programs, and clean water initiatives around the world.
Local Impact: A distinct feature of CROP Walks is that 25% of the funds raised by a local walk stay in that specific community to support local food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens.
- Who Manages It?
National / International Management: The program is organized and managed nationally by Church World Service (CWS), a global ecumenical humanitarian coalition of 37 Christian denominations and communions.
Local Operations: While CWS provides administrative support, materials, and overarching management, individual CROP Walks are organized and run on the ground by local volunteer committees, faith organizations, schools, and civic groups in hundreds of communities across the United States.
Beyond organizing CROP Hunger Walks, Church World Service (CWS) operates a broad spectrum of humanitarian, development, and advocacy programs globally and within the United States.
Breakdown of CWS Financial Efficiency:
Program Expenses (~85%–87%): The vast majority of funds directly support programs like CROP Hunger Walks, refugee resettlement, disaster relief, and clear water development.
Administrative/Management Costs (~5%–7%): Covers executive leadership, accounting, legal compliance, human resources, and general operational support.
Fundraising Costs (~7%–8%): Covers the cost of donor outreach, walk logistics, marketing materials, and digital pledge systems.