United Church Ministries annual Walk for Hunger held
By From staff reports
Published in News on April 1, 2012 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Faron Belom, left, Nathan Mumford, and Hannah Worley, all age 6 and first-graders at Fremont STARS school, watch the events unfold at the festival from beneath the protection of an umbrella.
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Children from Fremont United Methodist Church Pre-School perform during the opening ceremonies of the Daffodil Festival in downtown Fremont on Saturday. Thousands of people attended the annual spring festival despite the rainy weather.
United Church Ministries held its 29th Walk For Hunger on Sunday, March 25. Sixteen churches participated, with 153 people joining in the walk.
There were a variety of walkers and runners -- children, teenagers, young adults, seniors, even mothers with young children in strollers.
Three churches furnished the bulk of the participants: Stony Creek Free Will Baptist with 27 walkers; First African Baptist-24; and Union Grove Free Will Baptist with 21.
Connor Jones from Stony Creek Free Will Baptist was the first runner to finish. He clocked in at 30 minutes, 47 seconds.
Sandra Mitchell from Westwood United Methodist Church came in second at 37 and a half minutes. Marion Smith of Pine Forest United Methodist and Stoney Creek's Andy Musselman with his dog, Lexy, arrived at 42 minutes.
The first walkers were Curtis A. Hinton, who is 78 years old, and Meg Kidd from Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist, who completed the walk in 60 minutes. Right behind them were Hinton's son, Curtis A. "Curt" Hinton Jr., and his grandson, Curtis A. "Trey" Hinton III, also from Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist.
The walk is the only fundraiser held by United Church Ministries. The event usually produces around $15,000 to $18,000. The proceeds are used to help people in emergency situations throughout the year. Food is one of the main needs.