Walk Name	Date
Arenac
Au Gres	May 4
Berrien
Blossomland (St. Joseph/Benton Harbor)	May 18
Emmet
Petoskey/Bay View	June 28
Huron
Eastern Huron County	May 4
Ingham
Williamston/Webberville	May 4
Ionia
Lakewood Area (Lake Odessa)	April 27
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Valley	May 4
South County (Schoolcraft)	May 4
Kent
Lowell Area	May 4
Macomb
East Macomb County (Mt. Clemens)	May 4
Oakland
Berkley Area	May 4
Farmington/Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield	May 4
Lake Orion/Oxford	May 4
Royal Oak	May 4
Southfield/Lathrup	April 20
Troy Area	May 4
Ottawa
Holland/Zeeland	April 26 & 27
Shiawassee
Shiawassee County (Owosso)	May 4
St. Joseph
Sturgis	April 27
Van Buren
Eastern Van Buren (Paw Paw)	April 27
Wayne
Downriver (Southgate)	April 27
Downtown Detroit	May 3
Grosse Pointe Area	May 4
Redford Area	May 4
Wayne/Westland	May 4

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Total Income was $2,720,810 marking the eighth consecutive year Michigan has topped the $2.4 million level. Michigan has been the leading Walk fund raising Region in the U.S.A. for CWS the past 22 years.

Walks in 144 communities resulted in $2,204,417 with 22,144 participants. The average income per Walker was $107.98.

374 Michigan Hunger Agencies received $540,272 in funds from local CROP Hunger Walks in 2007.

37 Years of Walking in Michigan have provided over $10 million of resources for Michigan hunger agencies and $31 million for the global hunger/poverty programs of CWS in more than 80 countries. CROP Hunger Walks in Michigan started in 1971 with 20-mile Walks in Marne and Midland.

Leading CROP Hunger Walk was Holland/Zeeland, for the 25th consecutive year, with a total income of $217,907. The Greater Lansing Walk was the second highest funded event with income of $86,542. The third largest Walk was Birmingham/Bloomfield Area with $79,823. The four-county Metro Detroit area is the second leading fund raising area for CWS in the U.S.A.

Top Walkers were John & Wendy Kreitz of Beverly Hills - $10,707, Bill Wade of Dexter - $7,700, Dr. Peter Thoms of Flint - $7,052.

Major and Planned Giving Income exceeded $102,000 for Michigan CWS in bequests and grants.

Leading Churches/Parishes were First United Methodist Church in Birmingham with $38,449, Kirk
in the Hills Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield Hills with $25,311, and Dexter United Methodist Church collecting $15,109.

Designated Funds for sister U.S. International Agencies amounted to $79,939 including Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran World Relief, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, National Assoc. of Evangelicals W.R.C., etc.

“Million Dollar Walks” (cumulative) are Holland/Zeeland - $3,116,494, Greater Lansing - $1,817,830, Washtenaw/Ann Arbor - $1,385,176, Saginaw - $1,192,523, and Kalamazoo Valley - $1,078,595.

30 Years (or more) Community CROP Hunger Walks are Greater Jackson Area,  Greater Lansing, Kalamazoo Valley, Lakewood Area, Lenawee/Adrian, Midland, Sturgis, Tri-Cities (Grand Haven), Washtenaw/Ann Arbor, and Williamston/Webberville.

CWS Tools & Blankets Program was the second largest source of  program funds with donations of kits and income totaling $277,134.

History records, that Michigan CWS/CROP volunteers have collected $56 million in farm commodities, clothing, blankets, kits, and cash in the past 60 years. CROP was organized in Michigan in 1947. The first 20 railroad carloads of Michigan grain were shipped in February 1948. David Bower was named the Michigan Director in 1970.

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WALKS:

Albion		$ 3,389
Allegan		1,344
**Barry County (Hastings)		19,872
Battle Creek		37,770
Bay County		4,935
Belleville / Romulus		26,524
Bellevue		1,125
Berkley Area		6,355
Big Rapids		7,053
**Birmingham / Bloomfield Area		79,823
Black River (South Haven)		8,137
Blossomland (St. Joseph/Benton Harbor)		40,608
Blue Water Area / Port Huron		19,199
BMW (Breckenridge / Merrill / Wheeler)		3,316
Branch County (Coldwater)		8,114
Brighton Area		16,241
Cadillac Area		9,309
**Cass County Dowagiac / Cassopolis)		13,322
**Chain of Lakes (Bellaire)		6,188
Charlevoix County		14,245
Charlotte		11,090
**Chelsea / Dexter Area	[5,030]	35,893
Chesaning		4,416
Clare Area		14,843
Clarkston		1,425
Constantine / White Pigeon		5,247
Coopersville / Marne / Ravenna		7,219
Copper Country		7,481
Crossroads		12,098
Croswell / Lexington		5,000
Dearborn / Dearborn Heights		11,668
Delton Community		5,374
Detroit / West		9,151
Downriver / Southgate		45,256
Downtown Detroit / Cass		7,552
**East Macomb County		23,137
Eastern Huron County (Harbor Beach)		8,768
**Eastern VanBuren County (Paw Paw)		29,622
Eaton Rapids / Dimondale		2,254
Escanaba		4,273
Farmington / Farmington Hills / West Bloomfield		36,880
Fennville		1,306
Fenton / Lake Fenton / Linden / Holly		12,362
Ferndale		9,137
**Four Flags Area (Niles / Buchanan)		15,545
Fremont		10,276
**Fruitport		8,421
**Gaylord		11,857
Genawassee Corner (Gaines)		6,988
**Grand Blanc		19,216
Grand Ledge		10,513
Gratiot County (Alma)		14,184
Greater Flint Area	[915]	24,258
Greater Jackson Area		16,145
Greater Lansing		86,542
Grosse Ile		10,442
Grosse Pointe Area		26,942
Hanover / Horton		1,402
Harbor Country		5,769
Hillsdale County		8,426
**Holland / Zeeland		217,907
Homer		3,887
Howell Area		16,490
Huron Valley / Milford		19,074
Ionia Area		14,957
Irish Hills		10,478
**Iron County		4,150
Kalamazoo Valley		39,437
Lake Orion / Oxford Area		26,936
Lakeview		13,206
**Lakewood Area (Lake Odessa)		19,461
**Leelanau County		19,035
Lenawee / Adrian		13,797
Leslie		180
**Livonia Area		26,934
Lowell Area		15,780
Lyon Lake		2,532
Manchester Area		6,733
Manistee County		9,744
Manistique		2,056
Maple River (Bannister)		4,381
Mason		3,502
Mason County (Ludington)		9,246
**Midland Area		48,866
Monroe Area		11,576
Mt. Pleasant Area		18,433
**Muskegon		53,389
**Newaygo / Grant		12,278
North Kent County		14,005
Northeast Lenawee (Macon)		3,600
NW Macomb Co (Romeo / Washington)		18,500
Norway		2,352
Novi / Northville		19,975
**Oceana County		12,998
Ortonville		6,637
Otsego / Plainwell / Martin / Shelbyville		10,935
Ovid/Elsie		6,498
**Panhandle (Howard City)		5,011
**Perry / Morrice / Shaftsburg		5,640
**Petoskey / Bay View		23,155
**Pinckney Area		9,664
Plymouth / Canton		3,875
Redford Area		8,549
Richland		5,091
Richmond Area	4,570]	4,820
Rochester Area		16,333
**Roscommon County		14,810
Royal Oak		13,865
Saginaw County		38,018
Saline Area		7,653
**Saugatuck / Douglas / Ganges		14,016
Shelby Township		9,744
Shepherd		2,535
Shiawassee County		5,908
**South County (Schoolcraft)		10,475
South Lyon Area		7,260
South Ontonagon County		1,294
South Shore Area (Flat Rock)		11,595
Southfield / Lathrup		8,442
Southwest Leelanau (Empire/Glen Arbor)		2,739
St. Clair Area		4,997
St. Ignace		2,844
St. Johns		11,077
Sturgis		12,130
Sunrise Side (Tawas Area)		30
Three Rivers Area		8,722
Traverse City		21,507
Tri-Cities (Grand Haven)		29,449
Tri-City (Coloma / Hartford / Watervliet)		7,230
Troy Area		23,356
Union City / Athens		5,949
Utica / Sterling Heights		5,808
Vassar / Millington		7,028
Walled Lake Area		4,151
Warren / Center Line		9,352
**Washtenaw / Ann Arbor	[1,094]	71,279
Waterford Area		10,415
**Wayland Area		10,713
Wayne / Westland		11,668
**White Lake Area (Montague / Whitehall)		5,160
Williamston / Webberville		14,724
Ypsilanti Area		14,304

OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Grand Rapids - Special Project		$27,650
Marquette - Special Project		1,333
Pigeon / Laker - Canvass	[6,100]	6,100
Unionville / Sebewaing - Canvass	[490]	490

*New Walk
**Events over 3 years old having their best income year ever
[ ] 2006 Walk funds received in 2007 included in total

2/11/08

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Althea Hayes (center), Recruiter for Novi United Methodist Church, pauses with some of her Walkers before starting their 10 kilometer Walk in nearly 90 degree heat on October 7. The 20th Anniversary Novi/Northville Walk was coordinated by Dr. Thomas Anan of Faith Community Presbyterian Church of Novi. Photo: David Bower/CWS

The National Honor Society of Northport and Sutton’s Bay High Schools participated in the Leelanau CROP Hunger Walk with a little friendly competition. They raised $1,152 as well as awareness of impoverished people in their community and throughout the world. Photo: Liz Lint (teacher/advisor)

The Michigan Region once again is tops in the nation for gifts to Church World Service/CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty)! In fiscal year 2007 (ending June 30), our CROP Hunger Walk Teams raised more that $2,000,000 and we had total donations of more that $2,500,000! Two of our CROP Hunger Walks were in the top 10 in the nation, and overall we had 13 CROP Hunger Walks in the top 100. Thank you for making Michigan #1 in the nation in Walk income for the 22nd consecutive year! We could not do this without you!

The people of Michigan have taken a lot of hits, faced many challenges, and seen very hard economic times. But you would never know it by the generous and gracious support we receive from you! As someone recently said, “It is precisely because we know hardship that we respond to the plight of others.” The communities of Michigan are not only first in gifts, we are tops in compassion and mercy! We have big hearts for our sisters and brothers in need in our own neighborhoods and around the world. We are driven by compassion, the ability “to feel with” others, and are motivated by the simple, yet profound mission: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR COMPASSIONATE HEARTS AND GENEROUS GIFTS, MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY IN NEED!

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Here are some helpful thoughts regarding the process of growing a CROP Hunger Walk using the organic metaphor:

Charles Washburn has participated in a CROP Hunger Walk every year since he was 10 days old. This was number 14 for the teenager. He even left the Youth Deer Hunt to join fellow walkers in the Ovid/Elsie event! Photo: Johanna Balzer/CWS

CULTIVATE THE FIELD: Get to know the soil of the community. Investigate the community’s need and aspiration to help impoverished people.

PLANT THE SEED: Share the idea of the CROP Hunger Walk as one way to address some of those needs and aspirations.

WATER THE SEED: Create /Establish a CROP Hunger Walk Team with interested partners.

FERTILIZE THE SEED: Encourage and provide resources for the CROP Hunger Walk Team. Spread the word!

WEED THE PLANT: Meet challenges that spring up.

PRUNE THE PLANT: Invite new leadership aboard and let other leadership go with affirmation and dignity.

ENJOY THE HARVEST: Welcome the fruit of your labor! Have fun and celebrate your CROP Hunger Walk, making a difference in your community and throughout the world!

EVALUATE THE YIELD: Affirm those things that went well and make plans to address the issues of limited growth.

Our hope and desire is that this life cycle continues on an annual basis so that we may have a perennial garden of CROP Hunger Walks in our communities.

The Big Rapids Area had their best CROP Hunger Walk in more than 15 years. More than 75 people walked on a warm and sunny day, raising more than $7,000. We celebrate their labor and harvest! Photo: Pastor Jeanne Koughn (Coordinator)

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The Leelanau CROP Hunger Walk had their best Walk in their 18-year history, raising more than $19,000 with over 200 Walkers. Pictured are Kristine Hanson (age 13) with her grandparents Ed Havitz and Pam Fulton. Kristine’s mother, Lynn Hanson (who walked with Kristen but is not in this picture) has been walking in CROP events for many years. In fact, although Kristine is only 13 years old, this is her 15th CROP Hunger Walk. We congratulate Kristine and the long tradition of her parents and grandparents in making a difference in the lives of many people in need through the CROP Hunger Walk! Photo: Ginger Campbell

In 1971, the first CROP Hunger Walks were held in Michigan. Midland held the first community event, and the United Methodist Youth of the Western Michigan District held a 21-mile CROP Hunger Walk from Marne to Coopersville. The combined income for these two Walks was $10,304. On October 19, 2007, we surpassed $40,000,000 raised in CROP Hunger Walks! We celebrate this amazing milestone with heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has ever participated in a CROP Hunger Walk. Step-by-Step, we make a difference: We are Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty!

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• The Cadillac Area had a beautiful morning to walk with bountiful fruit to share (more than $9,000 and second best Walk ever). The CROP Hunger Walk was revitalized after a year off, through the coordination of Rev. Valori Mulvey Sherer and a re-energized Walk Team. Pictured are Jim Barton, a former coordinator and member of the Walk Team, and some friends, as they make the trek around Lake Cadillac. Photo: Tom Eilar Photography

  Hopeful and Clear expectations: Team members know their roles and serve together toward a meaningful goal and purpose
• Mutual Accountability (Encourage and Evaluate)
• Good Communication (E-mail, telephone, regular mail, and personal visits)
• New Leadership on the Team Yearly (Gifted people in the right roles)
• Shared Recruitment efforts (Use of everyone’s personal networks)
• Use of proven Strategies (Online tools, matching gifts, grants, and individual incentives)
• Ownership of the Walk by Local Allocation Recipients (Involved in the Planning, Preparation, Promotion, and Participation)
• · Simple and Concise Resources
• · Creation of Community (Cooperation and Partnership)
• · Staff person fully vested in the Walk (Presence)
• · Affirmation and Thanksgiving

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Jackson Area CROP Hunger Walk leaders celebrate 31st year. Though the weather was wet and gloomy, Susan and Phil Fracker and Susan and John Gahagan are all bright smiles as they stand in front of a long list of $100 plus Walkers. A fine turnout of about 120 Walkers and a preliminary report of nearly $13,500 in funds raised were like rays of sunshine. Photo: Bob Barnhart/CWS

Sandra Campbell pictured with her dog “Ginny” has made two “extra steps.” In addition to her leadership role for the Clare Area CROP Hunger Walk, she has made significant gifts to the CWS Africa Initiative in memory of her husband, Fred, and sister Lorraine Schultz, who had both been Walk committee members. Photo: Johanna Balzer/CWS

As we enter the season of thanks giving, we are grateful for the wonderful CROP Hunger Walk Teams, congregations, and individuals who come alongside us to extend the hands of Jesus, making a difference in the lives of countless children, women, and men throughout the world!

Results are still coming in, yet we know that at least 23 CROP Hunger Walks had their best Walk ever in 2007! Another 22 CROP Hunger Walks have gone far beyond last year’s income totals, and we anticipate we will exceed last year’s bountiful harvest! We celebrate reaching our goal of 6,060 Kits for the 60th Anniversary of CROP, and the Alternative Gifts Opportunity continues to gain momentum as we provide a meaningful way to celebrate the Holy Season!

It is our privilege and honor to serve alongside you, our many faithful and generous partners, as we seek to fulfill our mission “Christians working together with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and promote peace and justice”. Thank you for thanks-living, WE ARE GRATEFUL!

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If you have a 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 year CROP Hunger Walk banner that you are no longer using, please let us know. We would be happy to conserve and recycle them!

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 Michigan CROP Walkers are connecting with family and friends all over the world through the on-line giving option.  Income on-line jumped from $ 61,694 in all of FY07 to $ 61,581 in the first half of FY08 alone.

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Walk to Feed the World
Audio file of song by Mike Madill, performed by Mike Madill & Jim Best. ©2006 Kedron Music. (2:50)
Requires Real Player.

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