2016 Red Bank CROP Walk Window Sign

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Rally Kicks Off Countdown to 36th Red Bank CROP Hunger Walk

As summer winds down our CROP Walk Season Kicks Off with a rally held at the First Baptist Church of Red Bank. Pastor Steve Brown welcomed over 60 attendees including committee members, teen leaders, recruiters and representatives from our local partners. Also attending were student counsel representatives from Oak Hill Academy. In his blessing Pastor Brown encouraged all of us to continue in the work of witnessing and taking action as we walk together in this community event to end hunger.  

Pictured are some of our over two dozen teen leaders representing over a dozen Monmouth County high schools. Our teen leaders presented a program to highlight the work of our 15 local partners who are counted in the 2200 programs reached through the efforts Church World Service and the CROP Walks around the country. Teen leaders shared information on the impact of climate change on agriculture and water resources, along with the work of CWS in aiding and resettling displaced people. For more information on our local partner programs Click Here.

This year there is a "change of  leadership" for our annual food drive and distribution. We recognized Vicky Smith and Joe Lotito who are in training with Sheila Alfano and Eileen Betz to organize the food collection after their retirement. Sheila, Eileen, and their husbands, Al and Bob and their close friends Don and Joan Foote help Tim Sunig supervise the students from Christian Brothers Academy. 

This food collection team has worked diligently to move mountains of food in preparation of distribution to two dozen local Monmouth food pantries. The map above shows the reach of our efforts through our local partners and pantries throughout the county. For more information on our food collection Click Here.

 Our 36th walk t-shirt is another collaborative effort. Designed by Bella Murrer, senior at Red Bank Catholic, the stars on the shirt represent our local partner programs and their daily efforts to meet the needs of our neighbors in surrounding communities. 

T-shirts can be purchased on the day of the walk $10. but to guarantee your shirt you can email us for more info. All proceeds go directly to CROP.

If you weren't able to attend, you can pick up materials and purchase t-shirts, wristbands etc. CLICK HERE for INFO.

Local Partner in Action, Matawan Community Food Pantry

CROP Hunger Walks are interfaith events to raise funds to end poverty and hunger. Sometimes even our local partner programs are interfaith. The Matawan Community Food Pantry is a joint effort of Cross of Glory Lutheran and Matawan Presbyterian. It's located in the municipal center at 201 Broad St. It's been serving families in the area for 20 years. Co-Director Sis DeMarco gave us a tour to allow us to see this program in action, to see how funds donated through our CROP Walk help their program. 

Sis showed us the room provided by Matawan which allows them to collect and store donations during the month in preparation of opening its door for distribution on the last Saturday of each month. As many as 200 families come between 8 am and noon where they are greeted by volunteers that help to distribute bagged food staples. In addition to the bagged shelf stable products, clients are also provided with fresh chicken, eggs, and proteins such as tuna and peanut butter. Fresh vegetables are a nutritious addition to foods available.

    

    

We need to mention the dedicated volunteers. They do an amazing job keeping this program going strong. Adults from both churches and community members volunteer and are often accompanied by area teens.

We hope to have tri-fold displays at CROP Walk so each of our 15 partner programs can share information on the valuable work being done throughout the year to help families in Monmouth County to  have more sustainable access to food which most definitely improves their overall quality of life. Nutritious food helps improve overall health and the benefits are valuable for adults often working  at low paying jobs and for children who learn more and do better in school when they have had enough food to eat. 

For additional information on this pantry you can call. 732-566-2663