Walk for a cause, walk for hunger.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road, hosted the Sondra King Memorial CROP Hunger Walk of North DeKalb County Sunday.

The annual event, a part of Church World Services, provides disaster relief and self-help development projects throughout the world. DeKalb’s walk was just one of 40 walks in Illinois Sunday.

“Our goal is to raise $30,000 today,” said Martha O’Gorman, co-chairwoman of the event.
“Seventy-five percent of the money we raised will go to Church World Services and other international agencies to help with their efforts, and 25 percent will go to DeKalb County agencies.”

Among those agencies are Meals on Wheels, Hope Haven and Safe Passage.

The walk consisted of several groups sponsored by various churches and businesses throughout the DeKalb County community, as well as NIU groups and independent groups. Walkers were able to choose between walking a one-mile or four-mile course along Lucinda Avenue in DeKalb to show their support.

“It’s a good opportunity for us as a community to help and show we care,” said Marc Boyette, senior sociology major.

For others, the walk was an opportunity to show concern for those outside of the community as well.

“It always is good when you can show support for people not only in the U.S. but overseas as well,” said Chuck Lukanen, senior communication major. “Not everybody has the goodies we do and it’s good to spread the wealth.”

DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said that the walk for hunger provided the community an opportunity to give a basic need to those who are less fortunate.

“I taught psychology for 21 years at Kishwaukee College,” Povlsen said. “I am reminded of the Maslow hierarchy of needs and the most basic needs of people; I cannot think of anything more basic than food.”

This year’s walk had more than 240 participants.

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