I had the privilege of meeting Maurice Bloem Tuesday night.  Maurice is the executive vice president of Church World Service, a cooperative ministry of 37 Christian communions born in the aftermath of World War II, working together to eradicate hunger and poverty and promote peace and justice among the world’s most vulnerable people.

Maurice is in the Bay Area this week, walking 100 miles in one week to raise awareness about global hunger and malnutrition, in advance of this weekend’s CROP Hunger Walks.  Communities all over the United States are sponsoring local CROP walks this weekend to heighten awareness of hunger in our communities, and to raise money for local and international hunger relief programs.  My husband Hank Leeper, executive director of the Alameda Food Bank, will be one of the walkers in Alameda this Sunday at 1 p.m., and many of our friends from our church, First Congregational Church of Berkeley, will be joining the Berkeley walk.

You can find a walk to join in your community by going to the CWS CROP Hunger Walk website.    Walk (or sponsor another walker) because you’re not hungry, and want to help those who are.  Happy walking!