Cass County area churches, in conjunction with Church World Services, is hosting the annual CROP Walk at the Cass County COA Oct. 2.

The walk/fundraiser to fight hunger will begin at 2 p.m. at the Lowe Center in Cassopolis.

Churches are looking for local groups and individuals to come and walk with them. Participants do not need to be a church member to join in.

This is a fun walk. Light refreshments will be provided along with games and activities for the whole family. Pets permitted but must be leashed.

Participants will walk the COA track (7/10 of a mile) and have various activities at stops along the track.

The CROP Walk (Church World Services/Walk Against Hunger) started in Dowagiac. The first walk/fundraiser was held back in the 1960s. Participants used to walk from one church to another. Walkers received pledges for how far they walked.

Later, the hosting of it began to rotate to different area churches each year between Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg and Pokagon Township.

Last year, the walk was hosted by Pokagon and Cass County raised $6,577. Seventy-five percent of funds raised go to Church World Services for overseas and U.S. intercity clean water and to stop hunger. Twenty-five goes to local food pantries where it is divided up to help Edwardsburg Food Pantry, Marcellus Food Pantry, Feed My Sheep, First Christian and Action Ministries.

Cass County residents are asked join in walking and help improve the lives of others with clean water and food.

For more information, contact Pastor Scott Scheel at the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church at (269) 663-6815 during normal business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.