Red Bank Crop Walk Returns for 32nd Year

Each year the annual Red Bank Crop Walk to End Hunger raises awareness for the food insecure throughout the world with a 5-mile October walk, fundraiser and food drive.

This year, organizers are hoping to collect 12,000 pounds of food to be distributed to local food pantries at a time when the organizations and the residents they serve need it most.

Last year the Red Bank Crop Walk, which generally draws about 1,000 walkers, collected nearly six tons of non-perishable food items and, at first count, more than $74,000 in donations. Since its inception, the local crop walk has raised more than $2 million to help fight hunger.

According to Crop Walk Coordinator Janie Schildge, pantries are in special need this year of rice, beans, and peanut butter. 

The walk this year is scheduled for Oct. 21 beginning at 2 p.m. at Red Bank Regional High School in Little Silver. The five-mile walk will wind its way through Little Silver, Fair Haven and Red Bank. Water stops will be available along the way.

Crop Walk is held in numerous communities throughout the world and was founded by the Church World Service. Funds raised, according to the Crop Hunger Walk website, help fund grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world. Local Crop Walks also have the option of returning 25 percent of the funds raised to local community hunger-fighting efforts.

CROP Hunger Walks help to provide food and water, as well as resources that empower people to meet their own needs.  From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs.

Crop Walk organizers have teamed up with a number of local businesses and organizations to collect food for this year's walk. From a Red Bank Crop Walk release detailing the event:

Red Bank Regional HS Key Club will have a PHOTO OP for CROP and will join many schools, faith groups, and businesses to collect food. Rumson Country Day School is our community leader in food collecting, This year Shrewsbury VW is launching a big food drive in their showroom, so check out the new beetles, and our classic beetle food box, and bring a can of beans to help fill it. Two River Community Bank branches have food boxes around the area, as well.

DJ J & J Music will be playing background music for our new Crop Walka Walka, led by Teen Leaders from RBC and many area schools. And the CROP HOP has a great beat in telling the story of how we can help eradicate hunger in small ways. An art contest, Community Garden display, affordable housing,ONE.org, the Tomato Workers Coalition, will all have displays, along with our 17 local partner programs, where you can get information on how to help. It is a family day, with clowns along the route, happy smiles, and a cup of ice cream and fresh apples at the finish line. You'll be glad you got involved.

For more information about the event, or to learn how you can help, go to www.redbankcropwalk.com or call 732-530-7718.

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