CROP Run to end hunger, one step at a time

Fri, May  28, 2010 - By Spencer Ruffner

Spencer Ruffner is a member of Team NordicSkiRacer.

It is great to have such generous sponsors and so many people supporting (Church World Service) North East Lenawee CROP Run. This event will take place on June 19, 2010 in Macon, Michigan. 10K (6.2mile) run begins at 9:15 am and the 5K (3.1 mile) run at 10:00 am. (Registration packet pick up at MUMC 11964 Macon Hwy. Clinton, Mi. 49236)

First I want to recognize our sponsors:

• Boulevard Chiropractic. Dr. Charles E. Berrington 127 E. Chicago Blvd. Tecumseh
• Edwards Jones Investments 140 W. Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh.
• Eye Care Center  904 W. Chicago Blvd. Tecumseh  423-2001
• Okey MD Family Practice  301 S. Franklin St. Clinton
• Running With E’s 146 N. Main St. Adrian.

This event is also supported by Jerry’s Market, Boulevard Market, Cowboy Grill, The Daily Grind, Bush's, Basil Boys, Stone Mountain Pizza. 

Attention soccer players, this is a good opportunity to stay in shape and prepare for next season.

A donation (see registration form attached for the amount) is the entrance fee for a 10K or 5 K run. Discounts for youth or additional family member.

The donation will provide FOOD SECURITY, WATER AVAILABILITY AND ASSIST CHILDREN around the world.

Note: After June 1, entry fee increases for a run.

Additional $10.00 if you would like to purchase a "ENDING HUNGER ONE STEP AT A TIME CROP HUNGER WALK" Tee shirt.

Please register early for any of the many CROP walks with an on-line donation at www.cwscrop.org. You may participate in or donate to the NE Lenawee CROP Run using the donation web site or a paper form (PDF). The event is June 19, 2010. Sign up as an individual, register as a team and get others to donated to your team, or send a check made out to -CWSCROP- to 9234 Murphy Hwy. Tecumseh, Mi 49286.

All food donated and  25% of funds raised will go to people in need within NE Lenawee area. Come and participate in one of the runs and bring a can of food ENDING HUNGER ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Thank you, in advance, for promoting / supporting / participating in this event.

Spencer Ruffner

About CWS:

"Where we came from"

Church World Service was born in the aftermath of World War II. A number of denominations came together to form an agency "to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone." The mission: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless.

More than 60 years later the mission remains, though where and how we accomplish it has changed dramatically. In 1946-47, U.S. churches opened their hearts and provided more than 11 million pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies to war-torn Europe. Protestants and Catholics pooled talent and resources to meet a staggering refugee crisis. Today the Immigration and Refugee Program of Church World Service is a vital, internationally-lauded ministry, having resettled some 450,000 people since its inception.

Also in 1947, CWS, Lutheran World Relief, and the National Catholic Welfare Program created a joint community hunger appeal, the Christian Rural Overseas Program. Today CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, and is most closely associated with community-wide interfaith CROP Hunger Walks.

CROP captured the imagination of America's heartland. Soon Friendship Trains were roaring cross country, picking up commodities such as corn, wheat, rice, and beans to be shared around the world. The experience of the trains led to Friendship Food Ships. And, a multi-denominational program called One Great Hour of Sharing was formed to raise in-church gifts to fill these ships. CROP continued to provide community-wide opportunities for sharing.

In the 1950s and 60s, CWS expanded its ministry of compassion and relief to Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

As the '60s dawned, the focus changed from a band-aid approach to one of giving a helping hand up. Church World Service began to augment its emergency assistance work with support for long-range, problem-solving efforts--what came to be known as development.

Development begins at the grassroots. CWS recognized early on that to be successful the projects and programs must come from the people themselves, not be imposed by others.

Church World Service sought out local agencies, often Christian councils, who share this vision of empowering self-help; and, long-standing partnerships were forged.

Over the years the success stories have been many. One of the first was in Algeria, in North Africa. Over four years, using more than 5-1/2 million human days of volunteer labor, some 20 million forest and fruit trees were planted to anchor the soil against nature's persistent erosion.

In India, Church World Service helped countless villages construct reservoirs, dig wells, and lay irrigation systems. The result: "Drought insurance" and improved food production.

The same partnerships that enhanced our development efforts have enabled Church World Service to maximize our response to disasters.

We responded during the horror of Biafra, in West Africa.

We helped Nicaraguans rebuild after the devastating earthquake of 1972--and Guatemalans, after a similar quake in 1976.

We sent shiploads of food to the famine-stricken Sahel region of Africa in the mid '70s.

We witnessed to reconciliation with the people of Vietnam by sharing a shipload of wheat for orphanages and hospitals.

We have championed peace and justice and self-sufficiency around the world.

And, we are arm-in-arm with our partners and friends in Kenya...the Middle East...Central America... Sudan...Indonesia...Pakistan...the Balkans...and across the U.S., as we journey together through a new century."