Naperville Area CROP Walk

We Walk Because They Walk

Ø      Plan to attend the CROP Walk Rally, Saturday, August 24, 2013 7:30 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 21 E Franklin St.   Come and be inspired by the stories of walkers and recruiters. Meet leaders from the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Naperville Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.  Learn about the work of Church World Service to help hungry persons and provide long term solutions to global hunger.  You will receive sponsor envelopes, posters and other publicity materials for your organizations bulletins and newsletter. Contact Denise Deitz to reserve a place for you and others from your church or organization.

Ø      You will learn how you can develop a team and encourage walkers to Walk on the Web. As a recruiter, you are encouraged to develop a team or ask someone from your organization to develop a team, invite others to join your team so that they can encourage  others to contribute to  your team.  You will be able to track contributions that have been made to your team.  The first step to use the Walk on the Web option is to set up your team.  In the process of starting a team, you will need to enter your e-mail address and set a team goal.  Click here if you have questions about starting a team for Walking on the Web.   You can download the Church World Service brochure that explains "Walking on the Web," by clicking on this line.  You can begin to set up your team or monitor your team's progress by clicking on the stop sign below this line.

Ø      If you cannot attend the breakfast, contact Phyllis Pepiot  to receive the envelopes for walkers and publicity materials. Phyllis is the Church Office Manager for Grace United Methodist Church, and can be reached at 630-355-1748.  These materials are available in the church office of Grace UMC during week day business hours.  Each walker will need an envelope.

Ø    Publicize CROP Walk though your organization's bulletins and newsletters.  Set up a CROP Walk table and recruit volunteers to staff the table so those coming or leaving will be invited to participate.  Invite your congregation's small groups, youth groups, and confirmation classes to participate.  Encourage walkers to use www.NapervilleCropWalk.org web site and the "Walk on the Web" option that can be found through the web site.  Use the "bookmark" bulletin insert in your church's bulletin.    Ask your church's web master to include a link to this web site.  Click here for "Tips Fundraising Success"  from the Church World Service web site, 

Click here for CROP Resources Flyers, bulletin inserts, brochures, hunger facts and other helpful items

Ø      Ø    If your church schedule allows, plan a luncheon for your group before the walk.  Collect your walker's top sheet of their CROP Walk envelope, enjoy some social time, and then car pool to the walk.  Make a list of those who have turned in their sheets in order to pass out tickets for the free T-shirt (for walkers whose pledge total is $50 or more).  Remind those under the age of 18 need to have their top sheet signed by a parent or guardian.  Inform them that they must give their recruiter the top sheet at the luncheon or check in at your registration table in order to walk and to get the ticket for the free CROP Walk T-shirt. 

Ø      Provide your walkers with detailed information about the CROP Walk. (click here to view the Information for Walkers)  Tell your walkers to arrive at the CROP Walk registration (Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Rd.) between 12:30 and 1:00 PM.   Each walker is required to bring the top sheet of their CROP Walk envelope to your congregation's registration table which will be in the Fellowship Hall unless you have already received their top sheet.  (Walkers should not bring the collection envelope to the walk.)  Walkers who have collected $50 or more will receive a ticket for a CROP Walk T-shirt at the registration table.   (Families will receive a ticket for each member of the family provided the total raised is greater than $50 times the number of family members.)  Walkers who do not qualify for a current year T-Shirt may take one from a previous year. 

Ø      When you receive the top sheet of anyone under the age of 18, be sure the gray box on the walker envelope is signed by a parent/guardian.  To comply with our insurance policy, the top sheet must be signed by a parent or guardian for anyone under 18 to participate. 

Ø      Encourage your walkers to us the "upper parking lots" at Grace United Methodist Church.  Theses parking areas are on the opposite side of the church from the parking lot near the DuPage River.

Ø      On the day of the Walk, plan to be at your congregation's registration table (in the Fellowship Hall (lower level, under the sanctuary) of Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Rd.) by 12:30 PM.  At the table, you will need to:  1) Collect their walker's top sheet of the CROP Walk envelope, 2) hand out tickets for T-shirts to every walker who has collected $50 or more.  3) Hand out pins for any $200 walkers.  If you have more than 25 walkers, please recruit an assistant.  Keep a tally of the number of walkers and the number of $200 walkers from your organization.  Be prepared to share that number with a member of the CROP Walk Coordinating Committee at 1:30 p.m.

Ø      Advise your walkers that the CROP Walk will take place rain or shine!  The walk is symbolic.  We walk because many people have to walk great distances daily for water and food.  If the forecast calls for heavy rain, lightning, or high winds, please use your judgment to advise your  walkers.  The safety of walkers is our highest concern.  Even if you can't be at the walk you can still get sponsors.   Click here for information about rain and/or inclement weather.