Walkers raise over $4,000 to fight hunger

By Alberta Stojkovic –

Despite the rain and clouds over 35 walkers representing seven local churches and organizations came out on Sunday afternoon Oct. 7th to walk to fight hunger. 16 walkers from the Marengo United Methodist Church walked on an earlier weekend at Cardinal Center. Included in the local walkers were representatives from the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Gilead, First Baptist Church in Mount Gilead, Cardington First, Chesterville, Edison, Harmony and Trinity United Methodist Churches. The Morrow County Crop Walk was one of 2,000 other Walks around the country to raise funds to fight hunger’, assist people in need and educate people to raise crops and livestock.

The 16 Trinity Walkers dedicated their walk to the memory of Dick Lyon who passed away earlier this year. Dick was known as a “spark plug” for many projects at Trinity and especially liked to raise enthusiasm for the Crop Walk. Dick’s wife, Della Lyon, walked with the group along with his daughter, Debbie Banfield.

Della said, “When the sun came out at the end of the Walk and chased away the rain, it was a metaphor for eradicating the dark clouds of hunger.”

Della said that she has received more than $1,100 since the walk in pledges. Carl Schaefer said that he was excited that they had collected over $4,000. 25% of the amount raised will go to benefit the Disciple Shop and it’s ministries in Fulton. The Disciple Shop was the location selected by the Morrow County Ministerial Association, which is the local Crop Walk’s advisory Committee.

Carl Schaefer, Crop Walk Coordinator, expressed appreciation to the Mount Gilead Church of Christ for hosting the walk and thanked the Boundary UMC for their hospitality with apples and a rest stop. He also thanked Morrow County Sheriff Brenneman for a deputy to insure the walkers’ safety.