Walk booms with Walkers, matching gifts, and prayers

Betty Voskuil, former Church World Service Committee Chairperson and Coordinator of the Holland/Zeeland (Michigan) CROP Hunger Walk, invited a faithful couple to provide an extra incentive for the spring 2007 Walk, to help reverse a several-years trend of declining participation.

So they challenged each church and group taking part: “For every Walker that participates from your church or group above the 2006 total, we will give $50.” As a result, 1,499 more Walkers from these churches and groups took part, realizing an added gift of $75,000! Total income for the event was $217,907 – more than doubling the 2006 total.

The Holland/Zeeland CROP Hunger Walk also offered an opportunity for Walkers to enhance their spiritual experience by writing out a prayer prior to the Walk and hanging it on a clothesline at the starting point, as Sarah Anderson of First Presbyterian of Holland is doing here.