VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Barnes County CROP WALK for Hunger raised $5642 through their annual walk earlier this year according to Edie Schmidt, CROP WALK treasurer. Recently, $1410 was donated to the Barnes County Food Pantry.

The Barnes County Food Pantry provides food to individuals and families needing assistance.  It is run by volunteers and is donation funded.  Money donations provide the Food Pantry with the flexibility to purchase those items that are in need but in short supply (e.g. meat, dairy and produce). Over 100 food boxes were given out last month according to  JoAnn Korf, coordinator of the Barnes County Food Pantry.

To be eligible to receive food from the Food Pantry, a referral is required from Churches/Pastors, Outreach Workers or Barnes County Social Services.

The CROP WALK for Hunger is a local ecumenical event, partnering with Church World Service (CROP) to reduce hunger across the world and here at home in the United States and in Valley City. Funds raised also provide for safe water and sanitation across the globe.

Church World Service is an ecumenical development and relief organization that works across the world. In 1997 it provided relief services for the people in the Grand Forks area during the flood. Last year funds from various walks across the USA funded 1670 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other hunger-fighting agencies in 44 states to keep local families fed.

Church World Service has a number projects oversees including one in Kenya where clean water has been brought to a community through a well and a solar-powered pump coupled with storage tanks nearby. This will reduce disease and allow the community to grow gardens and start businesses.