44th annual 'CROP' Hunger Walk raises money to overcome poverty

The routes offered at the John U. Miller CROP Hunger Walk 2024 were one or two miles. Around 150 walkers participated and donated.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -"It’s the 44th annual "CROP" Hunger Walk in the city of Albany," said Kitt Jackson, Chair of the Albany CROP Hunger Walk Committee. "CROP stands for communities responding to overcome poverty. We walk in solidarity with people who have to walk in all kinds of weather just to survive."

The routes offered at the John U. Miller CROP Hunger Walk 2024 were one or two miles. Around 150 walkers participated and donated.

"I did the mile walk mostly because of the rain," explained Rev. Steven Smith, Senior Pastor at the Delmar United Methodist Church. "Fighting with the umbrella and the rain and the wind was a little bit of a challenge."

Nell Stokes has been participating in this CROP walk for more than 30 years. She believes it's important for those who have what they need to help those in need. "There are people who walk without coats, raincoats. There are folk who walk without umbrellas. I had my umbrella. They gotta walk miles just to get food and so I needed to perservere and walk that golden mile. So I like to be a part of it. I get energy to keep going from the folk here."

Dave Cleveland volunteers with The Food Pantries For The Capital District and says last year, the Albany CROP Walk came in 5th place nationally against large cities. "The Albany one is very dynamic. 25% of what they raise stays locally and most of that money does go to one of the 69 food pantries in the food pantry coalition. The rest of it goes nationally and internationally. The CROP Walk is just an amazing process."

To find a CROP Walk near you or to learn how to donate, click here.