Walk sets pace for local service

The streets of Chapel Hill and Carrboro were pounded Sunday by more than 1,000 feet during the Inter-Faith Council’s 19th annual CROP Walk.

The walk is designed to raise money for the Church World Service — an international humanitarian organization — and the IFC to help fight hunger at home and abroad.

“There are a lot of congregations that have been doing this forever, and they’re a big part of this,” said Josie Hartman, one of the event’s organizers.

“But because the CROP Walk has been going on around the country, there’s also just individual people that call me and say, ‘When I was younger, I was doing the CROP Walk. How can I do it again?’”

Each participant had to raise at least $100, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the IFC and the rest to the Church World Service.

Among the many walkers was a group of residents from local shelters called the IFC Striders.

Strider Anthony Mebane said he coined the group’s name and was glad to walk with it again this year.

“It’s doing something that would benefit here in Chapel Hill, and this being a global problem, I jumped at the chance,” Mebane said.

“I myself have eaten before at the shelter and I’ve seen the crowd of people who eat there often.

“It’s an excellent cause.”

Exact figures weren’t immediately available, but race organizers estimated that the walk raised between $55,000 and $60,000 and had about 575 participants, up from last year’s 513.

IFC Executive Director Chris Moran said the money his organization received would go to buy food that hasn’t been donated, such as eggs.

“For a lot of people, the CROP Walk might be their introduction to the IFC,” said IFC Programs Director Kristin Lavergne. “I see a lot of faces here that I don’t recognize, and to me that’s a good sign.”

The four-mile course took walkers from the Carrboro Town Commons down Rosemary Street, through the University campus and back toward Carrboro on Cameron Avenue.

As they returned to the Town Commons to finish, walkers were greeted by bottles of water and cookies, as well as a man dressed in a bear suit who called himself “Honey Bear” and a group of local bluegrass musicians called the Grass from on High.

Lisa Lord, an elementary school teacher in Durham, said she’s been participating in the event for at least 10 years.

“It’s important for those of us who have plenty to eat to consider the problem and get the attention of other people.”

Mebane said the experience is spiritual and worthwhile.

“I feel good because I did something positive and this helps in a small way to end hunger,” he said.

“No, I feel great.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.