Serving the Midlands since 1979
The Midlands' first CROP WALK, in 1979, was a 10-miler, organized by the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Walkers converged at the seminary for the finish after starting in five different locations. That first walk raised $1,340.50.
Gradually the walk evolved from a Lutheran-driven fund-raiser to a non-denominational one; the the distance was reduced to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles); and the central location was moved to the South Carolina State House.
In 1996, the walk has moved to Finlay Park, with a route to Riverfront Park and back. In 2001, the distanced was shortened to a 5K (3.1 miles). In 2007, the walk returned to the S.C. State House as its starting and ending point. The date was moved back two weeks and closer to Thanksgiving to reinforce the walk's hunger-fighting goals.
More recently , the local walk's name was officially changed to the Midlands CROP WALK Against Hunger to make its mission more clear.
The 2007 walk will be the Midlands' 29th. In the previous 28 years, the walk has raised more than $730,000, a quarter of which has stayed in the community to help food pantries such as Harvest Hope Food Bank and Lexington Interfaith Community Services. The 1999 walk raised a local-record $47,914, with more than 1,000 walkers participating.
In past years, CROP benefitted agencies such as Sharing God's Love, in Irmo; Chapin We Care; God's Helping Hands, in Cayce; The Washington Street Soup Cellar; and the Oliver Gospel Mission.
