Back to Eisenhower Park for the 5th Annual Community CROP Hunger Walk

The 5 th Annual CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk took place in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY on October 18, 2014. Sponsored by the humanitarian aid organization, Church World Service, some 80 Long Islanders from six churches and two organizations began the Walk with prayer, given by Fr. Martin Kraus, and stepped off to a one or two mile course. The Walk’s goal was to raise funds from sponsors to feed the hungry, and more especially to provide seeds, tools, and methods that help people in impoverished countries to grow better crops and themselves raise their standard of living.

One of the best features of this year’s walk was the growth in the number of groups participating and their diversity. Fellowship among the walkers offered new connections and budding friendships. They included Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, OCA, East Meadow (Arlene Kallaur, Coordinator) and their priest, Fr. Martin Kraus, St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church, OCA, Dix Hills (Virginia Jerosh, Captain), Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church, Brookville (Sophia Niarchos, Captain), St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, Hempstead (Steve Pontickio, Captain), St. Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church, Woodbury (led by Fr. Moses), the United Methodist Church, East Meadow, (led by Pastor Paul Smith), the Uniondale High School Key Club (Daniel Ruano, President), and the organization “Abilities,” with their Advisor, Jillian Bianco. Sponsorship also came from members of the St. Sergius OCA Chapel, Syosset.

Refreshments served after the Walk included Matushka Dennise’s hot and tasty soup and pizza. An impromptu songfest followed, led by popular Karaoke DJ, Barry Hoffman, who volunteered his services. Help with directing cars to the right park area was offered by Boy Scouts Troop 225 and their leader, Gil Suarez.

Coordinator Arlene Kallaur stated that some 1,200 walks are held across the country each year, 9 walks on Long Island. Treasurer of the Walk, Ron Ousman, reported that this year’s Walk raised the most funds in its 5 year history, over $9,000. Twenty five percent of the funds remains locally and is given to an outreach group chosen by the Walk Committee. The Long Island Council of Churches will again receive this year’s funds. Among the many services that it offers to the needy, it runs food pantries in Freeport and Riverhead It continues to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy who are still recovering. Grateful thanks to all who supported the Walk, helping to erase poverty “one step at a time.”