By Lynn Wysocki-Smith and Elisa EnriquezLos Alamos Crop Walk Organizers
The 2012 Los Alamos CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot was a great success thanks to the many individuals, businesses, churches and organizations that contributed funds, time and talents.
We had approximately 220 walkers/runners participating in the event and raised $13,055, an increase of more than $4,000 from 2011, and were yet again one of the top CROP Hunger Walk fundraisers in New Mexico (second to Albuquerque.)
2012 was the first year we attempted a logo contest, with Sarah Worley being our young artist with a very creative design.
Thanks to Sarah and the many other 3rd-6th graders who submitted wonderful logos, and to the many youth in town who participated in hunger banquets to raise awareness of national and global hunger issues.
The money raised is used at the grassroots level for worldwide relief efforts, with 25 percent of the funds locally disbursed to LA Cares and the remainder to Church World Service (CWS.)
LA Cares provides services to those in Los Alamos County at risk of being homeless via monthly food distributions that support an increasing number of Los Alamos County residents.
CWS, a four-star- rated, non-profit organization, provides emergency relief to people of all backgrounds based on need, not religious affiliation.
In recent years, it has helped after Hurricane Sandy, the Haitian earthquakes, Hurricane Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami, and other natural disasters.
For example, it builds sand dams to filter and safeguard water; builds wells for ready access to clean water; uses local labor to build fishing boats to replace the lost livelihoods of fisher men and women; and gives seeds, tools and blankets to those in need. CWS gives a hand-up to help people help themselves.
We wish to thank all of our sponsors for their donations – ENT Associates of Los Alamos, Los Alamos Medical Center, Dixie Girl Restaurant, Animal Clinic of Los Alamos, CB FOX, The Finishing Touch, Bennett’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts, RPM Automotive, Trophies Tomorrow, Eye Associates of New Mexico, Hill Diner, Santa Fe Sports & Images, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Aspen Copies & Office Supplies, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Veterinary Cancer Care, Los Alamos Chiropractic and the families and friends of Aaron Goldman and Marcelle Wysocki. Thanks to the Los Alamos Monitor and Los Alamos Daily Post for their superb publicity.
We appreciate everyone who helped make the function a success and, specifically, extend a great thanks to the team captains and walkers/fund raisers from Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, The United Church of Los Alamos, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, White Rock Presbyterian, Los Alamos Jewish Center, The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos and First United Methodist Church, who sponsored the walk, promoted the competition and recruited participants.
We wish to thank Jeanne Butler, Rosmarie Frederickson, Linda Burns and June Gladney of the LA Cares Board for their time and effort in preparing for and volunteering on the day of the race, as well as Jim Little of Aaron’s Kids program for his assistance.
We also thank Ted and Joan Williams and the rest of The Atomic City Roadrunners for handling race logistics and coordinating the Turkey Trot and holding it in conjunction with the CROP Hunger Walk.
Special thanks to Wendee Brunish for taking care of the treasurer’s duties. Jim Stein for donating his photography expertise. Stan Kosiewicz for his reliable Master of Ceremonies charm. Lisa Rothrock for her editorial skills. Team captains Joyce Rybarcek, Delaney Rieke and Lynn Finnegan, and to the many unknown souls who pitched in at the last minute to staff the t-shirt table, accept donations, hang posters and handle the sundry pre- and post-race details.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers for our 2013 CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot. Please contact the event coordinators at tewapack@rt66.com (Lynn) or evesoul@yahoo.com (Elisa) if you can donate your time and energy to help us on our committee.
We hope to have an organizational meeting during the summer, with fundraising and publicity kicking off in high gear in September. Thanks again to all participants, and please mark your calendars for Sunday Nov. 25, 2013, for this year’s fun walk/run. Visit http://www.cropwalk.org/ for more information.
