Ventura CROP Hunger Walk

Help Us Choose the 2012 Hunger Walk Date

2011-10-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

You can help by taking this quick survey.

Another way to help is to "like" our Facebook page - it will help us get word out faster to all the Facebookers:

Today's the Day!

2011-05-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Walk Day has finally arrived and we hope you're ready to "walk the walk"! 76-degree weather is predicted for today, so it should be a gorgeous, although somewhat breezy, walk through town. Please remember to allow enough time to check-in (inside First United Methodist Church's Trotter Hall at 1338 E. Santa Clara St.) Bring your walk envelope/sponsor sheet, preferably with all donations ready to turn-in. If you still need to collect your donations, just bring the top sheet of your envelope and turn in the rest by May 17th.

DJ Dan will be playing music by 12:45, so come pack a lunch and picnic in the church courtyard before the walk. We will have an informal sendoff at 1:45 and walkers will leave at 2pm. The band, Blues Fever, will begin playing once the walkers begin returning and should be there until 4pm-ish. Virgil Nelson and his crew will offer footwashing to anyone who wishes to treat their tired feet.

There is still time to sign-up - just make a small donation to the cause and sign-up by 1:45 to join us. We can fight hunger and improve the quality of life in Ventura and around the globe . . . one step at a time!

Only Three Days to Go - So Where Are We Walking?

2011-04-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Since the City is reconstructing the Promenade, we have changed our route this year. So many of us love walking along the beach, so in order not to miss that ocean view, we are walking toward Emma Wood State Beach. The rest is very familiar - up to Project Understanding (past Catholic Charities and Family to Family) and through Downtown.

Click on this link to see the map.

Walk Day Entertainment

2011-04-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

The Ventura CROP Hunger Walk is less than one week away! We can still use help (set-up, refreshments, results counting, clean-up, donations) and we welcome anyone wishing to walk - just use the email link here or sign-up online (link on the left).
For all you walkers and helpers, we have musical and other entertainment - before and after you walk!

DJ Daniel D will be providing music in the courtyard from 12:30ish until 1:45. Pack a lunch, come early, check-in and then enjoy! DJ Daniel D has DJ'd events on the Red Carpet at Paramount Studios, has hosted public and private events for over 10 years. (He is available for private parties and weddings, offering a professional DJ service with premium sound equipment and lighting, and all styles of music, so you might think of him next time you are planning an event!)

A wonderful gift of service has returned to the Ventura Walk - footwashing! Virgil Nelson is organizing some folks to massage your tired feet as they soak in warm water . . . ah!

When you come back, you will also be greeted and entertained by the Blues Fever band. Sit down and rest, refresh yourself, and if you like, dance! The band will be playing from about 3 - 5 pm.

If you are still here, or if some of you diehards are late getting back, you can also refresh yourself with a free cup of espresso coffee! The Open Door coffee house offers espresso drinks at the church nearly every Sunday from 5-8 pm and all are welcome; this is an outreach ministry, definitely not members-only!

Great Job Online Fundraisers!

2011-04-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Just checked the Online Fundraising site and was very pleasantly surprised to see that our online CROP Hunger Walkers have raised more than $2,280.00 so far! If you haven't already created an online page for yourself, you're missing a very simple way to ask your friends and acquaintances to support our efforts. People can either use their credit or debit cards to make a donation or they can pledge an amount and hand you a check. Give it a try - every bit helps!

Did you drink any bottled water today?

2011-04-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Fact: In the U.S., we often choose to buy bottled water even though we have clean water at the tap. One of every six people in the world lacks this access to safe drinking water. Fact: Ground water in our own eastern U.S. is becoming increasingly contaminated.

Ventura’s May 1st CROP Hunger Walk helps improve community health, hygiene, and sanitation standards throughout the world. By supporting the Ventura walk, you will also improve the lives of local residents. 25% of what is raised stays in Ventura. This money will support the hunger-fighting programs of Family to Family, FoodShare, and the food pantries of Catholic Charities and Project Understanding.

Church World Service (CWS) joins forces with local partner agencies throughout the world, as well as national denominational groups such as American Baptist Churches USA, Brethren Disaster Ministries, Catholic Charities USA, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Lutheran Disaster Response, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and Week of Compassion to provide long-term recovery as well as immediate relief. Since CWS responds whenever and wherever disaster strikes, they are in Japan, Haiti, and Louisiana today - and will stay until rebuilding has been completed.

Sign-up to walk TODAY!

There Are More Ways to Help Fight Hunger Locally and Globally

2011-03-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

We are signing up walkers but can also use people to help put up signs and flyers, set-up and take-down on the day of the walk, donate snacks or help serve them as walkers return, or help walkers sign-in when they arrive. The walk is now a little over fiveh weeks away - how can you help?

Save the Date!

2011-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

We are walking on a later date this year:

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Walkers (and runners) will be leaving later as well:

Runners will leave at 1:59pm

Walkers will leave at 2:00pm

Later in the year and later in the day, but with Daylight Saving Time, there will be lots of light left after the walk.

If you would like to get involved - as a walker, sponsor, or a steering committee member, please contact
Renata Hundley via the email link below.

THANK YOU Walkers!

2010-04-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

A big “thank you” goes out to everyone who helped with last Sunday’s CROP Hunger Walk. Whether you walked, donated money or food, helped on the day of the walk with set-up, music and sound, refreshments, accounting, or cleanup; or whether you supported the April Fools concert with your donations and attendance (a HUGE thank you goes out to Dianna, Molly, and Steve for their generosity and wonderful talent!) – each one of you helped our local food pantries and people around the globe. The Walk involved ten Ventura churches and organizations as well as many individuals. This community pledged $15,356.00 as of Walk Day – many of these pledges have not yet been turned in and historically, much more will be donated in the next month. If you have not yet turned in your walk envelopes or would still like to donate, it’s not too late. Please see your recruiter or drop off your donations at the First United Methodist Church office as soon as you can.
Photos of the walk and the concert will be posted in a few days - in the meantime, here is a photo of one of our four-footed walkers at the end of the walk :-)

Today's the Day!

2010-04-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

Hunger Walk 2010 has arrived and the day is going to be perfect for walking! Walkers, please remember to come by 12:30 in order to check-in and get the information you need. If possible, please turn in your envelopes with your sponsor's donations. If you have not yet collected them all, just bring the top sheet of your envelope and turn in the money as soon as you can. Whatever we raise before the end of April will help get us a bigger check from the Alan B. Feinstein Foundation's Million Dollar funds to fight hunger.

Not walking? How about clicking on the Online Fundraising link on the left side of this page. Locate the Ventura walk and choose a walker to donate to. You may use your credit or debit card and Church World Service will send you a donation receipt. If you wish to donate cash or a check, make your pledge to a walker you know in order to deliver the check to them.

This year we are offering both a 5K and 10K walk, so come and join us!

Concert Fundraiser for CROP on April 18th

2010-04-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Besides walking and supporting walkers, people have another way to fight hunger in Ventura and around the world - a week before the CROP Hunger Walk! Please click on this image for details!

New Route(s) in 2010

2010-04-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

This year walkers can choose between a 5K and 10K walk and everyone will get a slightly different route from recent years. (Click on the map to enlarge it.)
The biggest change is that we will NOT walk down Sanjon and through the State Park and Pier areas. Instead, from the church parking lot, we will follow Thompson and cross down California before we follow the beach Promenade. Those wishing to finish sooner will be able to cut over to Mission Park and come through Downtown Ventura and back to the start in about an hour.

New CROP Hunger Walk Videos

2010-02-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

This is partly why we walk: to support Church World Service in their efforts. (75% of money raised goes to Church World Service or any organization a donor chooses to designate from a long list of partner organizations.)
(There are seven videos attached to this clip - just move your mouse over the lower portion of the image to switch to a different video.)

We also walk because 25% of what we raise through the Ventura walk stays in Ventura, supporting food pantries run by Project Understanding and Catholic Charities, meals served by Family to Family, and FoodShare.

Learn Why We Walk

2010-02-19T22:46:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, February 21st, we are holding our Ventura CROP Hunger Walk Kickoff. This is a great opportunity to learn where the money we raise goes and how it is utilized. Julie Brumana, Director of the California/Southwest region of Church World Service, will be there to update us on the latest efforts to fight hunger and poverty, as well as their disaster relief work in places such as Haiti. Walk fundraising and publicity materials will be available and tips on how to recruit walkers and sponsors - in person and online - will be shared.

Please join us at 1:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Church
5654 Ralston St., 93003

Questions? just use the email link or call 658-7446.

Great Job in 2009; Get Ready for 2010!

2010-01-22T22:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who walked, donated, or volunteered last year, the total amount raised came to $23,042.65 - great work, everyone!

Planning has begun for the 2010 Ventura CROP Hunger Walk and we can use your help. A small group got together in November to set the date for the walk as well as a couple of vital meetings. If you want to help put on this annual city-wide fundraiser, please plan to attend the first of two organizing meetings later this month:

- Organizing Committee meeting #2 of 3
Friday, January 29, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
First United Methodist Church
1338 E. Santa Clara St., 93001

- Recruiter Kickoff:
Sunday, February 21, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Church
5654 Ralston St., 93003

- 2010 Ventura CROP Hunger Walk:
Sunday, April 25th, begins at 1:00 pm
(Begins and ends at 1338 E. Santa Clara St. 93001)

Please print and share this Flyer

If you have any questions, please use the email link or call the number on one of the flyers.

One Day to Go!

2009-03-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

Actually, as I write this, we will be setting-up for check-in in less than twelve hours! The weather should be perfect for walking and excitement is building! Here's a link to our walk route, although there will be signs and plenty of people to follow. We hope walkers will begin checking-in around noon - bring your lunch and have a picnic in the church patio before the walk!

It's Almost Here!

2009-03-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Just a few more days until the CROP Hunger Walk in Ventura. If at all possible, try to collect your pledges to turn-in on the day of the Walk - the money will be used sooner AND we will all have less paperwork to deal with during the Easter, Passover, and Spring Break weeks ahead!

Don't forget to collect and bring canned foods - they will go to our local food pantries on Monday. Here's the list of what is needed most:

• Tuna
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Powdered milk
• Canned vegetables
• Pasta & pasta sauce
• Canned & dried beans
• Breakfast cereals
• Soups (canned soups- not ramen)
• Rice

One Week to Go!

2009-03-08T00:54:00.000-08:00

We have exactly one week left to get our sponsors and collect our money. We also still need several more volunteers to help out on the day of the walk. If you can help count and sort canned food; prepare, serve, or clean-up the after-walk snacks; help check-in walkers; or help as needed - please send an email to venturacropwalk@gmail.com.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from last year's CROP Hunger Walk:

Get Ready for the 2009 Hunger Walk!

2009-01-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

CROP Hunger Walk participants and supporters, you are invited to our Kickoff Event:

Saturday, January 31
2:30 pm
Ventura First United Methodist Church
1338 E. Santa Clara Street

Julie Brumana, CWS Southwest Regional Director, will be there to update us on the most recent ways CROP money has been used. Pick-up information and sponsor sheets to take back to your organization. (We are still looking for recruiters but anyone willing to help spread the news about this year's Hunger Walk is more than welcome!)

Questions? Please contact Kappy Paulsen (647-1600), Recruiter Coordinator; Janet Campbell (658-1751), Walk Co-Coordinator; or Renata Hundley(658-7446), Walk Co-Coordinator. Or email: venturacropwalk@gmail.com

2008 Hunger Walk Video

2008-06-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

I finally took the time to put my video clips together. See who helped raise nearly $25,000.00 this year!

Keep Turning-in Your Donations!

2008-05-07T18:33:00.001-07:00

As of May 5th, you have turned in $21,314.93 - thank you! There are still several envelopes that have not been turned in and promised money not yet collected, so if you have any of those, please turn them in to your recruiter or our CROP treasurer, Gloria Lewis. You can also drop off your walker envelopes and money at the First United Methodist Church office - Attn: Gloria. You walked by the office as you were finishing your walk last month. You did a great job on an awfully hot day - fantastic work!

6 . . . . 5 . . . . 4 Days to Go!

2008-04-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

The CROP Hunger Walk is almost here . . . . are you ready? Now's the time to collect your pledges; it's easier to turn them in on the day of the walk, rather than collecting them in the weeks afterward. It's your choice and your sponsors' but the sooner the funds can be sent in, the sooner they can begin working!

Don't forget to bring your canned and boxed food (any non-perishable is welcome but see the March 18 posting for the list of food pantry staples).

It's never too late to ask your friends to join you as walkers or sponsors - even Sunday morning!

We can still use more volunteers to help serve refreshments, sort and count food, take down signs, help decorate. We have one "sag wagon" driver but could use another so people, especially little children, can get picked up sooner if they can't finish the whole walk. Just email Renata at venturacropwalk@gmail if you want to volunteer for anything!

And to psych you up for this weekend, here are a couple of videos from last year - the start and the finish!

See you soon!

Thank You, Sponsors!

2008-04-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Downtown Branch of Affinity Bank and the Ventura Sunrise Rotary, we will be able to purchase refreshments and a prize or two for our highest fundraisers. Another sponsor is the Feinstein Foundation, the foundation that will send a check based on the amount of canned food we can collect. This year, due to corporate cutbacks, we lost a major donation to CROP. As you are looking for walk supporters, please also look at some of our local businesses and organizations. Do you know anyone who might donate $20 or more toward refreshments or participant prizes? Please ask them and let Walk Coordinator, Renata Hundley, at venturacropwalk@gmail.com know.

Counting Down and Counting UP

2008-04-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

With just one week to go before the day of the Walk, our online fundraisers are doing a phenomenal job! As of 7:30 pm today, they have raised $2,982.00! Fantastic - keep it up! The "leader of the pack" continues to be Andrew Wakelee, who has already raised $1,075.00. His fundraising page says it all:

In the last four years, people like you helped me raise more than $5,500 to install clean water wells, aid families in places like Darfur, provide food and housing here in Ventura, help people in poor countries to be better farmers, and help people when there are disasters around the world.

No matter how much each walker raises, they are doing the same thing - fighting hunger and improving the quality of life for people around the world. Whether the need is caused by economic or social factors, or caused by natural or human-caused disasters, each dollar raised will help!

Online CROP Fundraising Works!

2008-03-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

As of this morning our online fundraisers have already raised $1807.00 - thank you Andrew, Robert, Kevin, Leslie, and Terry - great work, keep it up! Some of you are asking how you can do it too. The simplest way to start your own online web page for CROP is to follow the directions on the Church World Service link. Another direct link is via http://www.cropwalk.kintera.org/. In either case, you'll need to click on the map and follow the link to the Ventura walk link. Click on the Register Here link and you're off! You can upload a small picture of yourself, your team, or use one of the pictures provided. Then you can send emails to your friends, relatives, and co-workers and you're done! Donors can either use their credit card or write your a check, your Walker envelope and the online help tell you how to account for these e-donations. It's fun and easy so give it a try!

CROP Hunger Walk Canned Food Drive

2008-03-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

Walking raises money and hunger awareness. Bringing canned food on the day of the walk will help feed people in our city right away AND raise a bit more money because of the Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Campaign to Fight Hunger. This is the eleventh year the Feinstein Foundation has issued it's challenge and divided a million dollars among all the anti-hunger fundraisers around the country each spring.
So whether you walk or not, please deliver, or ask someone to deliver, food to Trotter Hall at First United Methodist on Sunday, April 13th. Any non-perishible will be appreciated but the following food items are most desired at the Project Understanding and Catholic Charities food pantries in Ventura:

• Tuna
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Powered milk
• Canned vegetables
• Pasta & pasta sauce
• Canned & dried beans
• Breakfast cereals
• Soups (canned soups- not ramen)
• Rice

Other Ways to Help

2008-03-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Walking or sponsoring a walker are not the only ways you can help. We have need for a large and diverse Support Team to do any of the following (we can use several people to do most of these jobs):

BEFORE THE WALK

ON WALK DAY

AFTER THE WALK

If you are available to do any of these things (you or your group) please contact Renata via email at venturacropwalk@gmail.com - we would be most grateful!

Everything a CROP Walker Might Want to Know . . . .

2008-03-18T22:34:00.001-07:00

. . . is in the brochure attached to this link:
Information for CROP Hunger Walkers and Would-be CROP Hunger Walkers. (Sorry, I can't make it appear rotated the right direction and smaller than 133% view - you'll need to click the icons and make the adjustment yourself once the file opens.)

Where Do We Walk?

2008-03-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a map of the walk route. Basically, we begin at the First United Methodist on Santa Clara Street near Cabrillo Middle School. From there, we walk downhill :-) to the beach and follow the bikepath along the Promenade, past the Fairgrounds, and north along the Ventura River. At Main Street, we head back toward town but cross the street to Mission Park and turn left, heading north again on Ventura Avenue. We walk up to Project Understanding on Vince and the Avenue (this is a rest stop with restrooms!), then turn around and stay on the same side of the street until we are back on Main Street. Cross to Mission Park and continue heading east through Downtown Ventura. At Chestnut Street, turn right on block, then left on Santa Clara Street. Cross to Plaza Park (another rest stop) and you're on your way to the finish! There will be refreshments and a band to welcome you back where you began - you've just completed a 10K walk and raised money and consciousness to fight hunger's causes as well as giving immediate relief to people who need food!

Join us on Sunday, April 13th!

2008-03-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

We are just four weeks away from the day off the 2008 walk. We already have a number of dedicated recruiters and walkers raising and collecting pledges but we have a long way to go. Last year, we raised over $31,000.00 - can you help us beat that? You can help in a number of ways - by walking, by sponsoring a walker, by volunteering for a support job on the day of the walk, by getting your club or business to donate money for after-walk refreshments or money to purchase t-shirts or prizes for our highest fundraisers, or by helping us publicize the CROP Hunger Walk during the upcoming weeks. You can also collect canned goods to bring on the 13th! If you'd like to get involved, please email us at:

venturacropwalk@gmail.com

Church World Service has put together some videos that will explain how the money is used. They have put them on YouTube for your viewing pleasure: