2026 CROP Hunger Walk

We are losing the battle against world hunger. Hunger is the cause of half of all children’s deaths. 13.7% of U.S. households experience food insecurity. One in eleven people in the world go to bed hungry every night. Hunger needs are higher for Black, Latinx and Southern U.S. households. Money raised in the Freehold Area CROP Walk provides refugee assistance, sustainable self-help, development, and disaster relief here and abroad. CROP walks fight hunger and poverty through advocacy and collaboration with partners in over 30 countries, including the US, without evangelizing. AND 25% of our proceeds are returned to Open Door and The Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program to help us to fight hunger and homelessness right here at home! Our Walk has been a big “CREAM OF THE CROP WALK” since 2017.

The Freehold Area CROP Walk, organized by the Greater Freehold Clergy Association and WHAM, the Windsor Hightstown Area Ministerium, interfaith groups of leaders from Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and other faith groups, will take place on Sunday, October 18th at The Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 W. Main Street, Freehold. Registration is at 1:30 p.m. and the walk route will be available until 3:30 p.m. In the event of seriously inclement weather, donations will be accepted at the church and awards will be given there.

There will be a 2.6 mile and 1/10 mile mini-walk route marked out in historic Freehold Borough. A map will be provided at registration.

Register as a walker and raise funds online. Register yourself or your team on-line and then email family and friends to help end hunger and poverty! Donors can designate their total gift to 501c3 hunger programs of their choosing. Turn in your pledges at the walk if possible. We are also collecting rice, beans, soup, peanut butter and pet food for our pantries. The walker with the largest pledge amount on the day of the walk will become our honored Walk Marshal. The youth under 21 with the highest pledge total will receive a prize. Dogs on a leash are welcome. The pet with the highest pledge total will win a prize. Every walker with pledges will receive a t-shirt. Walkers raising at least $100 will receive a gift card to 618 Restaurant. Youth will also receive service project credit. Refreshments and water will be available. Coveted Gilded Sneaker trophies will be awarded to the team with the most walker/fundraisers on walk day and the team with the highest pledge total received by Nov. 30th.

You can become a Team Leader, download and print supplies and register your walkers directly on this page. Some congregations without walkers or with calendar conflicts collect pledges for a “Flat Clergy person.”

You, your business or organization can become a t-shirt sponsor for a donation of $200. You can become a lawn sign sponsor for a donation of $1,000. You or your business will be featured in large print on the t-shirt and on the lawn signs. You or your business can become our Event Sponsor for a donation of $2500. You will be entitled to address the walkers and help us award prizes. Your business name and logo will top the list of t-shirt sponsors on the shirt that everyone will sport proudly for years. Sponsorship donations should be made out to the Greater Freehold Clergy Association and sent to GFCA, c/o Freehold Reformed Congregation, 67 W. Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728.

For more information, call or text our Coordinator, Pastor Pat Medley, at 732-822-0711. Email her at PatMedley@aol.com.

Walkers in the Windsor/Hightstown area are invited to the West Windsor Community Park on Sunday, October 18th at 1:30 PM, organized by the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church.  Donations to this walk can be made to teams on this website participating in the WHAM Cluster.  For more info: please contact Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church.

 

Want to be part of a group? Check out the list of teams already started - or create your own!