More than 350 local citizens from toddlers to senior citizens responded with a firm show of solidarity in the 20th annual Attleboro Area Interfaith Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Hunger Walk held on Sunday afternoon. 

Everyone, including Father John Sullivan of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, successfully completed the three-mile route beginning and ending at Capron Park earning more than $20,000 in pledges made by church, family and neighborhood sponsors. 

CROP supports the efforts of Church World Service throughout the world and funnels some of the money to local charities. Attleboro is one of 2,000 communities across the U.S. that annually joins in one of more than 1,600 CROP Hunger Walks.

"Of what we raise, 75 percent goes to Church World Service in 80 countries all over the world," said Rev.David Hill, event coordinator and retired pastor of the Plainville United Methodist Church. "The other 25 percent goes to Food 'n Friends (soup) Kitchens. We now have six of them, three in Attleboro and others in North Attleboro, Seekonk and Mansfield."

With help from the CROP walk, Food n' Friends has served thousands of meals to those in need.

Most of the motley group of walkers, dressed in shirts that said: "Ending World Hunger One Step at a Time" finished the relatively flat route with ease. Along the way they were provided support by six volunteer guides and members of the Attleboro Police Department. Once they reached the finish line (at the Newell Shelter) walkers took a break, had refreshments and listened to the Praise Band. The younger walkers opted to get their face painted.

The Attleboro Area Council of Churches were the local sponsors of the walk but other denominations including those of Jewish and Muslim faith are also included, according to Rev. Hill.

 There were individuals,  friends and families who walked together, some even pushing future walkers in their strollers. Other people, who did not participate in the walk, showed support for families and friends.

Bill Taksar and wife Terry  of North Attleboro walked while pushing pushed their son in a wheelchair. "This is our first time and I thought we would walk this year," Bill said. "It's a great cause to support."

Steven King and his wife Laura  were among the last to finish, but were gratified that they made it to the end. King pushed his wife, who is in a wheelchair, during the walk. 

 "I have Multiple Sclerosis," Laura said while cradling her toy poodles, Mia and Chloe, in her lap. "We owe this to our friend, Laura Nichols, from our Community of Christ Church, who has done this for 12 years and encouraged us to do this. It was a beautful CROP Walk."

CROP walker, Bill Bentley, 62, said he is an active participant in these charitable walks. For this walk Bently, who is blind, was accompanied by Martin Martinez. "I have been doing this CROP Walk for 10 years," Bentley said. "I really love to help people in need, especially those who need food."

Central Congregational Church Youth Director Brenda Froio accompanied 17 of her youth group on the walk. "Every year we get a larger and larger group and raise more and more money to support this," she said. "We raised about $450 this time."

 "We really believed in this cause and that is why we came," said youth group memberBrady Rogers.

It was no surprise the 90-strong contingent of Bishop Feehan High School boys and girls cross country runners finished sooner.

"We have turned this walk into a tradition for the Bishop Feehan cross country teams," said Bob L'Homme of his squads who had run at the Brown Invitational Meet the previous day. "Now we combine efforts with the band and the chorus (over 170 this year) and just our runners alone raised about $5,000 last year. But this is good for the team and the school because they do it together and for a good cause."