Cleveland County CROP Walk

September 21, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Brenda Wheelock, Co-Chair
brendawheelock@cox.net, (405) 620-1305

NORMAN – More than 600 walkers are expected to gather Sunday, Oct. 2, to help fight hunger and poverty by participating in the Cleveland County CROP Walk to Stop Hunger.

Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. at Food and Shelter Inc., 104 W. Comanche in Norman. The three-mile, 30-45 minute charity walk will start at 2 p.m. and wind through tree-lined streets and the University of Oklahoma campus. Walk teams include churches, businesses, civic and student organizations, families, friends and dog walkers. Individuals are also welcome to join and register on the day of the walk, which will take place rain or shine.

CROP, which stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, is a nationwide ecumenical effort to raise awareness about the impact of hunger and poverty. The walk is one of over 2,000 such events taking place across the country this year and has been a part of the community for more than 25 years. It is organized by volunteers from a variety of local faith communities.

CROP Walk is a fun-filled, family-orientated event. Before the walk, participants can enjoy face painting for kids, musical entertainment by Norman Public School’s Manyawi World Music Ensemble and a contingent of the PRIDE of Oklahoma Marching Band. This year, members of local school and church choirs, as well as the Norman Community Choral Society will lead off the walk by playing the African marching song “Siyahamba.”

The After-Walk Celebration will include a hot dog cookout provided by First American Bank and dance music by DJ Adrian Buendia and Nexus Productions of Norman. Rest stations along the route, which are staffed by local Girl Scouts, will offer water and restrooms, along with water and dog treats for furry walkers. Those who are unable to physically join in the walk, but want to contribute and participate are invited to join in for the festivities.

“Raise Your Voice to Fight Hunger” is the theme for this year’s walk, inspired by the song “Raise Your Voice” by Oklahoma singer-songwriter K.C. Clifford, whose song was chosen as the international anthem for CROP Hunger Walks. “Raise Your Voice” T-shirts will be available for $10 each on the day of the walk and will be awarded free to each walker who raises $100 or more in walk donations.

Twenty-five percent of CROP Walk proceeds will be donated to Norman’s Food & Shelter, which has provided emergency housing for homeless families, meals to the hungry, and other vital services to those in need for over 20 years. The remaining CROP Walk proceeds go to support hunger relief and development projects of the Church World Service across the United States and over 80 countries. Although not affiliated with a particular church, the non-profit agency’s efforts are supported by a coalition of over 35 denominations and faiths. Church World Service programs in the developing world focus on economic and environmental sustainability, strengthening local communities, and building self-reliance.

"The Norman community is incredibly generous," said local CROP Walk co-chair Brenda Wheelock, noting that local CROP Walk organizers hope to raise more than $18,000 this year. "In the past 10 years, our community’s CROP Walk has raised nearly than $140,000 to benefit people in need, both here and around the globe."

Walkers are also encouraged to bring an additional “Entry Fee” of peanut butter and/or tuna to benefit local food pantries across Cleveland County. Participants can also “walk on the web” by making online contributions to the local walk at www.cropwalk.org.

“This year’s walk is shaping up to the biggest yet, with more than 20 walk teams participating and more than 60 local sponsors, added Co-Chair Bill George. “When you participate in CROP Walk, you are taking steps to alleviate hunger and poverty in the world's neediest communities and right here in our own backyard.”

Major sponsors of this year’s CROP Walk are Arvest Bank; Ballistic Branding; Cimarron Opera; Cleveland County Abstract Company; Community of Christ Church; Dental Design Studio; the Firehouse Art Center; First American Bank; Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma; Homesteaders at Hallbrooke, Jahruba Lambeth, Maxine Bates REALTOR; Manyawi World Music Ensemble; McFarlin United Methodist Church; Nexus Productions; Norman Music Institute; the Norman Transcript; Performing Arts Institute-Santa Fe Depot; PRIDE of Oklahoma Marching Band; Republic Bank & Trust; Scissortail School of Art; the Sooner Theatre; St. John’s Episcopal Church; St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church; Transcript Press; The United Church of Norman-UCC; University Lutheran Church; U.S. Food; Bill Veazey’s Party Store and West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Other sponsors are Barefoot Books; Blu Fine Wine & Food; Chipotle Grill; Cookies & Cards; Compassion Pointe; Copelin’s Office Center; Coppermark Bank; Coriander Café; Cutz Hair Salon; The Earth Café; El Chico’s; First Christian Church; First Presbyterian Church; Forward Foods; Gaborino’s Italian; Ginko Tree Art Center; Hey Day Family Fun Center; Hideaway Pizza; Himalaya’s; Integrative Health Center & Day Spa; La Baguette; Landmark Fine Homes; Merrybelle’s Gifts, Art & Tea; NOAA-NEA; Norman Vision Source; O Asian Fusion; Pink Elephant Café; Therapy in Motion; Trimble Law Office; Westpoint Homes; Victor Wilson, M.D.; Redrock Video Services; Sandlewood & Sage; Sonder Music; and Victoria’s Pasta Shop.

To learn more about CROP Walk, call Brenda Wheelock at 620-1305 or visit the walk website at www.clevelandcountycropwalk.org.