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500 take part in Conejo CROP Walk
Money raised to fight hunger locally, in world
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Photo by Brett Ziegler
Special to The Star
Torkil Hammer, center, crosses the finish line with Laurie Burns at the six-mile CROP charity walk Sunday.
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Photo by Brett Ziegler
Special to The Star
Marty Schwalm, left, a walk volunteer for about 25 years, greets Donald Morrow, who has participated about 10 years.
Walkers from across Ventura County turned out Sunday to help end hunger locally and around the world.
The volunteers were participating in CROP Walk, a national effort coordinated by Church World Services, an ecumenical organization. Walkers raise money through pledges.
At California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, where one of the three local walks started, Kristen Jakstis, 13, wanted to do her part.
"This not only helps world hunger, it also helps our community," the Thousand Oaks teenager said. "We usually think about Third World countries, but we don't always think about here."
The other walks Sunday were in Camarillo and Santa Paula.
Walks also are scheduled April 13 in Oxnard and Ventura, May 4 in Moorpark, June 1 in Ojai and June 8 in Simi Valley.
Conejo organizers anticipated that nearly 500 walkers would raise about $50,000.
More groups joined this year's walk and more students were involved, Conejo coordinator Sherrill Hyink said.
Walkers from about 20 churches and synagogues, along with at least six high schools, five middle schools, one elementary school and a private school, participated.
"We know the economy is really tight, but sometimes when the economy is tight people give more," Hyink said. "If they have it, they tend to give it."
CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. About one-fourth of the money raised goes to local food organizations. The rest goes to worldwide efforts.
"We're helping world hunger," said Fiona Bush, 14, of Newbury Park. "World hunger never stops."
On the Net:
http://www.cwscrop.org/californiasouthwest.
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