Sixty-three Ironton residents laced up their walking shoes and gathered at Moulton Field for a five-mile walk at 8 a.

Sunday, June 04, 2000

Sixty-three Ironton residents laced up their walking shoes and gathered at Moulton Field for a five-mile walk at 8 a.m. Saturday to help the hungry and homeless people in their community – and around the world.

Now in its fourth year, Lawrence County’s Crop Walk is one of some 2,000 Crop Walks taking place around the country this year. The Lawrence County walk helps raise money to feed the hungry here and in countries like Kosovo, East Timor, North Korea, and Indonesia.

More people participated in this year’s walk; last year’s tally was 59.

"I think it’s important to help feed the hungry," walker Kenny Lawson said. "Part of the proceeds come right back here to Lawrence County."

A resident of Pedro and member of Lawrence Furnace United Methodist Church, Lawson said he worked hard to find sponsors.

"This is my second year (in the Crop Walk), and I’d say I probably got close to 30 sponsors," he said

Lawson also knows what it is like to live on a low-income.

"I’m on disability," he said.

Lawson walks with a cane, but that doesn’t stop him from participating in this important charity, he added.

"I care for people around Ironton that don’t have enough to eat, or to make ends meet from month to month," he said.

Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from this year’s walk will provide relief to Ironton residents, some unemployed due to recent plant closings.

"With the state of the economy in Ironton, and several people out of work here, it’s important to support the food banks (located at First United Methodist Church and Central Christian Church)," Crop Walk treasurer Wilma Fox said.

Mrs. Fox has been treasurer of the Crop Walk since it began in 1997.

"The Crop Walk started when the Church Women United and the Ironton Ministerial Association pulled together, planning for this (annual) event as early as January (of each year)," she said.

And the fund-raising doesn’t stop after the walk, either.

A spaghetti dinner scheduled this afternoon at St. Paul Lutheran Church will add more money to the donation, she said.

Mrs. Fox also made arrangements with Sheriff Roy Smith of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department to secure the money that walkers turn in before the walk.

Mrs. Fox puts the donations in a box – a big box.

One Ironton resident, Aggie Taylor, turned in a total of $1,072 in donations. "Aggie’s done a bang-up job," Mrs. Fox said.

Not only were walkers benefitting from generous donations, they also had a little help from Mother Nature. The sunny 70-degree weather Saturday couldn’t have been better for an outdoor event like this, they said.

"At least it will be nice this year, and there will be a breeze," walker Debbie Smith said. "(The walk) is a lot of fun, and at the same time, it keeps the food pantries full."