Dear Walkers, Sponsors, and Wakers/Sponsors - here is the latest on this
year's CROP Walk <https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/austintx>
which, in addition to worldwide hunger relief projects, will provide direct
assistance to the Austin Community through contributions to iACT for
Refugees, MICAH 6, Central Texas Food Bank, Urban Roots, Mt. Olive Baptist
Food Pantry, Casa Marianella and Hope Food Pantry. It is nice that CWS is
allocating more this year to local communities.
We are coming together virtually with other congregations such as Saint
Martin's Lutheran Church, Saint Andrew's Presbyterian, Oak Hill United
Methodist, and United Christian Church of Austin on *SUNDAY MARCH 7 AT
2:30.*
*Virtual is Still Real/Community is Still the Goal:*
Not surprisingly, the Crop Walk is virtual this year - - but do not be
alarmed since this opens up realms of fun possibilities.
- People may participate individually or with other people, there is no
central location where the walk will start, and participants can get
sponsors who commit to funding them to complete almost any activity the
volunteer wants to do. Run, write, dance, serve, cook, swim . . . *any*
activity.
- For example, if a participant chose to perform community service
activities somewhere for four hours, or undertook to swim 10 laps, or walk
around the Mueller trail five times on March 7, 2021 beginning at 2:30
those can all serve to support this year's CROP Walk. This is important to
stress . . . *any* activity that you want to engage in, and that you can
get sponsors for, on March 7, 2021 can be a foundation to raise awareness,
funds, and community around hunger issues which are so pressing right now.
- Interestingly, over the past eight months during which other
eccumentical communities have participated in CROP Walks throughout the
country, donations have almost doubled. Whether this is because is it so
easy to participate now (doing whatever you want want / wherever you want /
with others or as an individual), or because the new CROP Walk platform
("onecause") seamlessly participates with other social media platforms and
allows more people to know about and participate in this great activity.
- Essential to our mission as communities of faith is something more
than raising funds, however. The Service and Outreach Committee is meeting
on February 3 to brainstorm ways we can use this year's CROP Walk to
further enrich our AMC family as a *community *and raise consciousness
to emphasize that food scarcity is a huge problem right here in one of the
fastest growing and richest areas of America. Food insecurity afflicts
16% of Travis County residents
<http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=157974>, many of whom
work FULL TIME . . . such as teachers and food service workers. This is
above the national average. AMC always does a great job in raising funds
during the CROP Walk - if anyone has ideas about how in this year of
virtual participation we can also build community and raise awareness
*please* let me know and I will take your ideas to our Outreach and
Service Committee meeting.
*NUTS and BOLTS/THIS and THAT:*
The starting point for your participation is at:<
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/austintx> From there you can
register as a participant with Austin Mennonite Church.
The most efficient fund-raising process is to have sponsors make a donation
directly on line: <
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/team/austin-mennonite-church>
It is super-easy to "invite friends" from that link as well.
In the past walkers received "Donation Envelopes" - I've attached copies of
a few I received this year. If you would like one I will be happy to mail
one to you or meet you at the church. Take a look at them because they do
have some useful information.
You may have seen CROP posters at AMC church in the past; there are LOTS of
resources available to draw from, or get ideas from, in order to fully
engage the communities that you may be seeking sponsorship from at: <
https://resources.crophungerwalk.org/>
*Everything Old is New Again*
Not much has changed in the nuts and bolts - find sponsors and have them
donate under your name at AMC. Checks and cash are welcome but they have to
be returned - with appropriate identification of which Walker to assign
them to - NOT LATER THAN *MARCH 12, 202*1. This is where the Walker
Donation Envelope (or something that looks like it) is useful. You can drop
it off at the church through the mail slot, or one of the Committee members
can swing by and pick it up. Having your sponsors made donations directly
on-line is the most efficient way for everyone.
What *has* changed is the creativity you bring to the event - either
coordinating with others or stepping out individually to participate and
engage on *MARCH 7 at 2:30 P.M*. Write a play, walk a path, kick a soccer
ball, or tend a garden with others . . . there are openings for all of our
skills and capabilities in raising money.
In faith,
Michael and all of the Outreach and Service Committee.
Attachment:
AMC 1.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document
Attachment:
AMC 2.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document
