It is springtime in Ironton and all around us we see new growth in lawns and gardens.

People around the world are often not as fortunate and instead of gardens and lawns, there are dusty, drought-destroyed plots with no hope of growing food or in some cases minefields too dangerous to approach.

We are again coming to you asking for your support as we help raise money to address this problem of world hunger through Crop Walk.

Crop Walk is a program through which funds are raised to provide food, materials, and education to help solve the problem of world hunger.

For over 50 years, Crop Walks have been held with the endorsement of churches, ministerial associations, Church Women United, civic groups and concerned citizens. In June we will be having our local crop walk, and we are writing to you to again enlist your support.

A percentage of all money raised will go around the world to various places of need to provide food.

In some cases the assistance will provide learning materials, machinery, tools and education to teach recipients how to cultivate their own food for the future.

In some cases these funds will help train people to establish and operate small businesses so that they can become self sufficient.

The unique aspect of Crop Walk, however, is that 25 percent of all funds raised here will be returned to our community to be distributed to local food pantries whose sponsors participate in the walk.

Our annual Crop Walk in Ironton will be held Saturday, June 5. It will originate at Moulten Field at 9 a.m. The five-mile walk, or any chosen part, is well-marked and volunteers will assist participants.

We need sponsors, walkers and financial support from you and the other businesses, professional offices and individuals.

If you have questions or would like a representative to meet with you, please contact Rev. Wayne Young at Ironton First United Methodist Church, (740) 532-1196. Checks should be made payable to Crop Walk 2008 and sent to Rev. Young at 101 N. Fifth St., Ironton, OH 45638.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this most worthy event. We welcome any contributions you may choose to make. Thank you!

Wayne E. Young

Ironton