Be prepared before and after the walk
BEFORE THE WALK ...
Start early! Recruit other members of your church, school, or organization to help you with specific tasks such as putting up posters, collecting money, etc. Register your group as early as possible by clicking here or here.
Advertise, Advertise, Advertise! Let everyone know why your team is walking, and ask others if they would like to join you. Keep your congregation, organization, or school updated on the number of walkers that agrees to participate each week. List the names of participants. The Midlands CROP WALK will provide brochures, posters, church-bulletin inserts, and videos for your use.
Challenge groups within your church, school, or organization to walk or pledge their support. Encourage friendly competitions.
Consider a voluntary fast for 24 hours for anyone who participates or sponsors a walker. Most of us never truly go hungry. The fast provides volunteers and supporters with a sense of want and empathy for those in need.
Help your walkers keep detailed records. In order to ensure that your team gets credit for all of the money it raises, make sure that every walker correctly completes the information on the CROP WALKER Envelope. Carefully explain to all walkers how to fill out the sponsor form, emphasizing that they fill out every section completely and legibly (including the names, addresses and phone numbers of all sponsors). Check to make sure that walkers have included the organization or team name at the top of the form and that they (or their legal guardian, if younger than 18) sign the waiver at the bottom of the form.
Take advantage of the free educational materials on world hunger, and call to request a guest speaker. Printed materials and videos are perfect for geography and world cultures classes, as well as Sunday school and professional organizations. Re-visit this site or the national CROP WALK site for education materials and updates.
Make posters, banners, or inspirational signs for your team to share and display on Walk day. Groups with posters and banners are more likely to compete for the annual Spirit Award.
Please try to reduce the amount of cash that you turn in. It will be easier for everyone if your team walkers turn in all cash and checks to you or your team treasurer, and you turn in one check for your whole team. You will find it easier to track annual contributions if you write one check for your group, and it is easier to be sure that your team will get credit for the full amount of your contribution.
You an also register your team so sponsors can make a secure donation online.
ON THE DAY OF THE WALK ...
Registration begins at 1:30 p.m., so try to get the whole group to the S.C. State House early. Please register the entire group at one time. The team leader should bring the top page of the CROP WALKER Envelope from each walker and all money that has been raised to date to the registration table.Please feel free to display art work and banners before, during, and after the walk.
Wear team T-shirts or CROP Walk T-shirts to show team spirit, and dress appropriately. Please remember that we walk rain or shine!
AFTER THE WALK ...
Thank all of your team’s walkers, and advertise the total number of walkers and the amount of money raised in your organization’s newsletter, bulletin, or next meeting/service.Collect any money that is still outstanding, and send it to the following address: The Midlands CROP Walk, 6436 sylvan Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.
Consider a celebration to recognize all participants who helped. This could be a special dinner, party, or a brief awards ceremony with certificates.
Remember our Web site can keep you updated throughout the year with information about the CROP Walk and hunger-related issues at home and abroad. Also visit the national CROP WALK and Church World Service sites.
Let us hear from you! If you have any suggestions on ways to improve the CROP WALK, or if you would like to help organize the event, please feel free to contact us at the address, phone number, or web site listed above. Some of our best ideas have come from team leaders and walkers.
