Date Set for the 2012 Walk

The votes are in and this year's Ventura CROP Hunger Walk will take place in the Fall, during what is often some of Ventura's most pleasant and beautiful weather! So save the date - Sunday, October 28th, and plan to walk or help out that day. We definitely need more people to help plan and put on the event, so please let us know if you would like to help in any way. Be sure to "like" our Facebook page, we are growing by the day!

Help Us Choose the 2012 Hunger Walk Date

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!

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?

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

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!

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?

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!