You can make a difference in the lives of hungry people by walking, getting sponsors, encouraging others to walk, and making a financial gift yourself. We walk because people around the world must walk to carry water and to feed their families.  

     In the  30th annual CROP Walk in 2012,  653 people raised a total of $74,061.51 from 22 churches and groups walking together to help the hungry people in our community and throughout the world. 25% of those dollars stayed in our own area to assist the work of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, which annually serves 1500 needy Naperville families; and helps the Northern Illinois Food Bank, distribute 100,000 pounds of rescued food to local food pantries.  The remaining 75% supports the word of Church World Service and other international relief agencies to provide food, disaster relief and self-help development projects in the U.S. and around the world.  You can learn more about this work at Church World Service web site.

     100% of the money donated by walkers goes to local food distribution organizations and to Church World Service to help hungry families.   All administrative and promotional costs of the Naperville Area CROP Walk are provided by our sponsors. 

You can help

• You can participate in this year's walk and ask sponsors to support you.  Click on this line to find out how you can walk with others in your congregation or organization.

• You can participate as an individual by getting a pledge envelope from Phyllis Pepiot (Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Rd, Naperville, 630-355-1748)  soliciting pledges and gifts and walking with everyone in CROP Walk or you can be a team of one using the "Walk on the Web" and send e-mails to encourage your friends to support you. 

• If your congregation or organization does not have a recruiter, contact the Naperville Crop Walk past President, Rev. Duane Mevis (630-791-9350) to see how you can organize others to help.

• You can help others raise support by publicizing The Naperville Crop Walk.  If you can't walk, you can ask for sponsors for a friend who is walking.

• Read Naperville Sun articles on the CROP Walk   (These articles require a program to read a "PDF" file such as Adobe Acrobat, a free program which is available at www.adobe.com,)

• Learn more  about the national and international issues for finding short-term and long-term ways to help hungry families through Church World Service.

• Join the Church World Service Speak Out Network to receive legislative alerts and then contact your legislators.

• Find resources for learning about and helping others learn about hunger  through the Church World Service 

• You can contact your local pantry to donate food, serve as a volunteer or organize a group from your congregation or organization to help.  Click on these organizations to volunteer:  Naperville Loaves and Fishes, or the   Northern Illinois Food Bank