Thousands March to Aid Christian Ministries World Hunger Fight

Mar 29, 2004 03:14 PM EST

Thousands lined up at Duke Chapel in Durham, N.C., for the 30th annual CROP Walk, sponsored by the Church World Service, an international Christian relief agency that fights hunger in 80 countries. The 4.8-mile trek at around Duke's West campus is the third largest among the 2,000 CROP Walks held nationwide, according to walk administrator Jenny Shaffer.

About 75 percent of the funds raised by the CROP Walk go to Church World Service 25 percent to Durham Congregations in Action, a faith-based group that distributes money to local hunger-fighting agencies such as Urban Ministries, Meals on Wheels and Housing for New Hope.

Of the many churches participating in the event, some included Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, Church of the Abiding Savior Lutheran and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.