Dozens walk for hunger
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on March 25, 2018 3:05 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Walkers take off heading west on Park Avenue in Herman Park to start the annual Walk for Hunger Saturday.
Prayers for a sunny day panned out for the members and supporters of United Church Ministries Saturday, as the group held its 35th annual Walk for Hunger fundraiser.
Held every year since 1986, the walk/run supports UCM's ability to help those in the community afford basic necessities, said UCM director Lisa Lamm.
"We help with rent, electricity bills, buying medicine, that kind of thing," she said. "The runners and walkers go out and get sponsorships and donations, and we've had as many as 150 to 200 people in the past."
This year's turnout was not that substantial, with a few dozen people gathered together at the gazebo in Herman Park. The run has traditionally been on a Sunday, but was moved to Saturday this year to allow people more time to get there, said organizers Ray Boyette and Fred Crosby.
Crosby said that around 45 area churches had donated to UCM, having collected offerings from their congregations and then sent in checks for the total amount. To receive aid from UCM, people have to qualify, and cannot rely on the money for a long time.
"You can't, say, have your electric bill paid one month and then come back the next month and get it paid again, it doesn't work like that," he said.
Among the walkers was a group made up of Melissa Hall, Jeff Rose, Jackson Rose, Fred Clark, Lou Rose and William Rose. Clark, the pastor at First Christian Church, had been coming to the walk for over two decades, he said.
Lou Rose said she had been coming to the run with her family for five or six years. This year was the first time they had brought along the family dogs, Miles and Snickers.
"I think it's just something we've gotten used to doing every year," she said with a smile.
Soon, the group was off. The Rose family stayed together near the rear, everyone walking together -- with one notable exception.
That would be Snickers, who caught a ride in Lou's arms.