Walking to End Hunger

Walk! Walk! Walk! CROP WALK! We walk to end hunger, NOW! On May 21 members of Wesley UMC met with a number of South Bay churches at Almaden Hills UMC in a joint fundraising effort to support Church World Services whose goal is to end the plague of hunger around the world. No one should go hungry here or anywhere else and this was our opportunity to lend a hand by making a financial contribution and walking together in solidarity.
Yes, it was merely symbolic our three mile walk around Almaden Reservoir on a bright and sunny afternoon, but it was a time to see the far reaches of partnership as well, in a common cause. And guess what, we from Wesley got to see and chat with Rev. Mariellen Sawada Yoshino who is the current pastor of Almaden Hills and as you know, a former pastor of ours.
And of course, at the end of this three-mile trek when we were all hot and thirsty was a tasty root-beer float which “hit the spot” and was truly such a treat from our hosts. This, of course, is enticement for all of the walkers. Of course, no one has to walk, as each church runs their own fundraising effort for the cause, but it is a time to visit, socialize and gather in God’s presence.
It is estimated that $1,100 was collected from Wesley, and John Tanaka and the Missions Committee thanks our membership and applauds our church’s gift. Tanaka noted that CWS will keep 75 percent of all the funds collected from all the churches for their program to end hunger and the remaining 25 percent will be divided to local non-profits that serve the hungry and needy…Sacred Heart, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Martha’s Kitchen.
The church’s participating this year along with Wesley and Almaden Hills were Campbell UMC, Stone Presbyterian, St. Paul’s UMC, Urban Sanctuary, Willow Glen UMC and Foothill Community. We thank ALHUMC for hosting the CROP Walk, the root bear floats and Doris Tabuchi for the snacks.
Crop walk made $1,935 and the Mission Committee contributed $1,000 on behalf of Wesley UMC.
Wesley Crop Walkers: Front row from left: Warren Uesato and Brian Hamilton; Back row from left: Ed Gibo, Doris Tabuchi, Hector and Bev Acuna, John Tanaka, Terri Koike, Denny Gibo, Misako and Ron Ogi (with Bella), Barbara Hiura, and Bich Hamilton. (Missing were Jeffrey Oldham and Brenda Gee.)
In the middle is the familiar face of Rev. Mariellen Sawada Yoshino.