Feed the Hungry

It is a heart-wrenching reality. Families who are starving. Children who live in poverty and are unable to get the proper nutrition to help their growing bodies develop and flourish. And while this harsh reality is something we often equate with third world countries, the truth is it is a problem right here in our own community. Children showing up at school hungry; unable to focus on learning because their next meal is all they can think about.

The good news is there is help, and you can do your part right here in Bonners Ferry by participating in the CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk. This year will mark the fourth year that Bonners Ferry has put on the event, the goal of which is to raise funds to contribute financially both at the local level and the international level to help fight hunger.

Seventy-five percent of the funds raised by CROP Hunger Walks nationwide are used by Church World Service, who is the sponsor of CROP Hunger Walks, to provide food, medical care, disaster relief and self-help development for needy people around the world. The remaining 25 percent stays local and goes to Community Action Partnership Food Bank to help those in need in our own community — a need that is very real.

According to www.idahofoodbank.org, the food insecurity rate — the number of people who have limited access to adequate food due to lack of money or resources — is 17.5 percent in Boundary County alone. That is equivalent to approximately 1900 people in our community who go hungry at some point throughout the year. And when looking at the food insecurity rate for children under 18 years of age in Boundary County, the number jumps to 23.3 percent.

The Idaho State Department of Education lists the percentage of students eligible for the free or reduced lunch program. And the statistics are staggering. For Bonners Ferry High School the percentage is 40.95 percent, and the Boundary County Middle School has 60.19 percent of its students who are eligible. The numbers are not any better for the elementary schools either.

The senior population is another group of individuals who often suffer from hunger. It is estimated that nearly one in four seniors in Idaho rely upon their Social Security income for 90 percent of their family’s income. Considering that out-of-pocket medical expenses are also on the rise, it is estimated that 15 percent of our senior population lives in poverty. In response to that, the Idaho Food Banks are doing more and more to serve the needs of the elderly population. But there is still much work to be done.

In its fourth year in our community, CROP Hunger Walks have been held for decades — the first being held in North Dakota in 1969. Today there are over 2,000 walks nationwide. While the goal is to help to feed the hungry, Church World Service does more than provide food and water. They also help provide resources to communities helping to inspire those battling hunger to meet their own needs. Money has been used to provide seeds, tools, wells, water systems and technical training just to name a few.

Judy Dirks was the one with the vision to bring the CROP Walk to Bonners Ferry. As the chairperson of the missions committee at United Methodist Church, Judy brought the idea to others who were enthusiastic in their response. “We loved her idea, and the rest is history,” said Julie Krezman, who assists with the annual CROP Hunger Walk.

To help raise not only funds, but awareness as well, this year’s CROP Hunger Walk will take place on June 13 from 8:30am to 2pm at the Bonners Ferry High School track. Similar to a walk-a-thon or jog-a-thon, participants obtain pledges, either per lap or a flat rate sponsorship, and come and participate in the walk the day of the event. People can sign up as individuals or teams. To register go online to www.cropwalk.org. and click Idaho then Bonners Ferry Walk. You can register as an individual, a team or simply donate online. There is not a registration fee, and everyone is welcome!

Organizers stress that this is not a race, but rather a fun-filled event for the whole family. They encourage people to go at their own pace and make as many laps around the track as they would like. Water is furnished, but organizers prefer participants bring their own water bottle if possible.

In its first three years, the Bonners Ferry CROP Hunger Walk has raised over $20,000; that is good news for this community!

#health #local #lifecommunity #sports #entertainment #events