Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Crop Hunger Walk of Ann Arbor

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk on the 50th anniversary of their efforts in the fight against hunger. The contributions that this event has made to Ann Arbor and its surrounding communities in support of access to meals and greater food security are worthy of commendation.

The Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crop to post-World War II Europe and Asia. They soon expanded their target to ending hunger at home as well. The first CROP Hunger Walks took place in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1969 and York, Pennsylvania in 1970. Since then, CROP Hunger Walks have grown to over 1,300 annual events across the nation with thousands of participating communities raising funds to eradicate hunger worldwide. 75 percent of the money raised at a CROP Hunger Walk is used to support global grassroot organizations while 25 percent of the funds stays in the host community for local hunger fighting agencies.

Ann Arbor held its first CROP Hunger Walk only four years after the program's founding. The city has helped raise, on average, $30,000 to $45,000 each year. That money has supported various community based programs and non-profits, dedicated to assisting all people with access to healthy food options, personal hygiene products, accessible housing, affordable health care, and more. The success of their CROP Hunger Walk would not be possible without the devotion of its volunteers and participants. As more communities have begun hosting their own CROP Hunger Walks, the committed community members of Ann Arbor have carried on this tradition and will continue to do so in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk and the contributions it has made to the fight against hunger. For the last 50 years, the event has brought together Ann Arbor and its surrounding communities in support of the common goal to end hunger. Thanks to the efforts of all participants and volunteers, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to fund local hunger-fighting programs in Ann Arbor and support global efforts to end world hunger and poverty. We thank the Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk for its service to Michigan and are excited to see how the event continues serving the community in the future.

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