With a slogan of "We walk because they walk," a group of Waco church members will be marching Sunday to raise funds for international development organizations as well as Caritas and Mission Waco.

 

"This is one thing we can do in Waco, Texas, in solidarity with others around the globe, many of whom have to walk to get water, to get firewood.  Maybe by taking our steps in Waco, we're making their steps shorter," said Howard Hartman, Texas Regional Director for Church World Service which puts on CROP Walks.

 

Participants get sponsors for the walk; 25 percent of the money raised goes to local organizations and 75 percent goes to international efforts.

 

"I think it's really important to do something that's going to make the community remember there are hungry people," said Katie Cook, a member of the steering committee for the walk and editor of Seed of Hope Publishers.

 

Cook said Waco used to have a CROP Walk, though she said she has no idea what the response will be this year.

 

While sponsor forms are available, not everyone must have a sponsor.

 

"You just come if you want; you can be your own sponsor," Cook said, "Maybe they don't have any money to give.  Part of the thing is to know we're all in this together."

 

CROP initiall stood for Christian Rural Overseas Program, begun as a cooperative allowing farmers in Texas and other states to distribute excess grain across the globe after World War II.

 

The walks, which started in 1969, are now part of Church World Service, the international arm of the National Council of Churches which unites Protestant and Orthodox denominations to coordinate relief and developemtn.

 

There are about 2,000 walks nationwide and about 75 in Texas.

 

Hartman said Clifton will have a walk Oct. 23.  Temple has one in the spring.

 

"This year will be a new walk for Waco, and we're just pleased with the interest being shown in the community to be involved in this effort," Hartman said.

 

Austin has the largest walk in the state and the sixth largest in the nation.  This was its second year in a row to raise more than $100,000.

 

Waco's 5K walk will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, starting from Indian Spring Park to Cameron Park and back.  Gene Jud of Caritas and Jimmy Dorrell of Mission Waco will be grand marshalls.

 

More information on Chruch world Service is available on the Internet at www.churchworldservice.org.  Cook said Priscilla Symank at 666-5936 can provide further details on the Waco walk.