My husband, Charles, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Ironton and the Lawrence County area for their generosity in supporting the food pantries, which help the needy.

This support has been essential to our being able to help many families every month.

We truly appreciate the gifts, donations and food drives which help keep our doors open.

At this time of year we especially want to remind our many friends that an activity which has helped us for many years will again be providing them an opportunity to be of further assistance in fighting hunger in Ironton and around the world. We are talking about the Crop Walk, which will be held here on June 6.

The Crop Walk effort uses walkers to recruit sponsors to pledge to the campaign, which gathers funds to fight hunger around the world. One fourth of the funds collected here return to Ironton to help support local food pantries.

Crop Walk is coordinated through a local committee made up of members from several local churches. We encourage you to participate as a walker, sponsor or contributor. If you would like to contribute, send your checks made out to CROP WALK to First United Methodist Church, 101 N. Fifth St., Ironton, Ohio 45638.

Once again, thank you for your faithful support and please consider helping us through the Crop Walk campaign.

Colleen Massey is the manager of the Downtown Food Pantry.