Students Will Walk to End Hunger

10/01/2015 

SUNY Cortland students have become key contributors to the local community’s CROP Hunger Walk, which will be the case again this year when they walk to raise awareness for the hungry Sunday, Oct. 11.

The event, which is part of a larger national initiative, seeks to increase knowledge of hunger causes and to raise funds to feed those in need. Last year, 86 percent of local walkers were SUNY Cortland students. They accounted for nearly half of the more than $11,000 raised locally.

“From the figures over the last three years, you can see the significant role that SUNY Cortland students have played,” said Jim Miller, a lecturer of history at the College and a lead organizer of the local event.

This year’s three-mile walk starts at Grace Episcopal/Holy Spirit Lutheran Church at 13 Court St. in Cortland, and it will take place rain or shine. Registration begins at the church at 1 p.m., with the walk starting at 1:30 p.m.

Donations will be accepted at the event or in advance through the local CROP Hunger Walk’s website, which also offers online event registration.

Several SUNY Cortland student groups, Greek organizations and sports teams played key roles in last year’s efforts. The College’s women’s lacrosse team raised $920 and earned the Gold Cleat Award as the top fundraising sports team. The Delta Phi Epsilon sorority brought in the highest total among Greek organizations.

Poor weather conditions forced a slight drop in overall participation numbers in 2014, but the group of 269 SUNY Cortland students still improved their fundraising total from 2013. Miller said he hopes both numbers will increase this year with cooperation from the weather and the event’s growing popularity among students.

Twenty-five percent of the local funds raised this year will be returned to the City of Cortland to feed those in need and assist organizations such as Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes.

According to the CROP Hunger Walk website, approximately 1,300 walks take place each year across the U.S., drawing 116,000 participants. The events are sponsored by the Church World Service, and invite people from all backgrounds to come together in support of the cause.

For more information about the Cortland event, visit the Cortland CROP Hunger Walk Facebook page or contact Miller or Susan Wilson, associate professor of recreation, parks and leisure studies.

Prepared by public relations intern Brandon Romagnoli