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Luna softball helps lead CROP Walk efforts
Initiative raises funds to fight hunger, aid with disaster, displacement
The Luna Community College softball team will lead a Luna contingent in this year’s Las Vegas CROP Hunger Walk.
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk events held in cities and towns across the nation raising funds to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization that responds to hunger, poverty and displacement and disaster around the world.
Locally, 25 percent of all donations will go to support local entities: Comedor de San Pascual Soup Kitchen, Las Vegas Community Soup Kitchen and the Samaritan House.
“One of our goals is to keep our kids active in the community,” said Luna softball coach Steve Wallace. “Hunger can affect anyone. This will be a nice team effort.”
Luna is one of several entities from around the community that have joined the worthy cause. This is the 20th Las Vegas CROP Hunger Walk, and during this time, $163,000 has been raised and more than $38,000 has been returned to Las Vegas.
“I think it’s good that Coach Wallace is teaching us to help others,” said Mya Ortega, a freshman from Atrisco Heritage Academy in Albuquerque. “This type of effort will help us bond more as a team by allowing us to know each other better.”
“I like it here,” said Ortega, an Allied Health major. “It’s small, and everyone says hi to me wherever I go.”
The CROP Project was organized in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops in post-World War II Europe and Asia. In 1969, the first walk events were organized in Bismarck, N.D., and York, Pa., to raise money. Since then, CROP Hunger Walk events have been held in communities all over the United States, raising millions of dollars in an effort to eradicate hunger and poverty.
“This is a good way to support our community,” said Aryanna Jimenez, a freshman from Rio Grande High in Albuquerque. “It will also help us build team unity and be there for each other.”
COVID-19 will keep organizers from having a large group walk. Wallace said that he plans to have Luna walk on campus at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Luna students and employees are welcome to join in the walk. COVID-19 precautions will take place during the walk.
“We will be asking school employees for donations,” said Wallace. “We will provide more information through our college Facebook page and The Luna Light.”
From March to August, the Las Vegas Community Soup Kitchen has served 2,583 meals compared to 1,782 meals from the same time in 2019. In the same period, they have given out 745 food bags, compared to 424 in the same span a year ago.
Checks or money orders may be made to CWS/CROP. You can also send checks or money orders to Patrick Rucker, CROP Treasurer, c/o First United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 37, Las Vegas, NM 87701. You can also donate online at crophungerwalk.org/lasvegasnm.