Elgin CROP walk steps off to fight hunger

A warm fall afternoon greeted hundreds of walkers Sunday for the 33rd annual CROP Hunger walk in Elgin.

Since 1983, Elgin area faith communities and civic organizations have partnered in a local CROP Hunger Walk effort to bring awareness to the persistent problems of poverty and hunger locally and globally.

During that time, Elgin CROP Walkers have raised more than $500,000 in support of the sustainable projects of Church World Service and Elgin area soup kettles and food pantries.

Twenty-five percent of the funds raised here in Elgin will go to the local food pantries and Soup Kettle in Elgin.

Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda was the honorary chair of the organizing team. Swoboda said Sunday's event was his first time walking with the group but certainly won't be his last.

The group stepped off from Elgin Civic Plaza located between city hall and The Hemmens Cultural Center in the city's downtown.

Last year, 144 walkers raised more than $24,000 in their locally organized CROP Hunger Walk.

This year, Elgin and some 2,000 cities and towns nationwide are joining together in interfaith community CROP Hunger Walks around the theme "Ending hunger one step at a time."