Press Release: CHOW HUNGER WALK NEEDS VOLUNTEER WALKERS

CHOW HUNGER WALK NEEDS VOLUNTEER WALKERS

Binghamton, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2009 . . . . . The annual CHOW Hunger Walk of the Broome County Council of Churches, preparing for its Oct. 18, 2009, has pledge envelopes for volunteer walkers who want to raise money to help feed the hungry.


“The need is great and the demand has increased nearly 25% this year as we prepare for the 27th year of the Hunger Walk,” according to Deacon Edward Blaine, program director of CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) of the Council of Churches. “Hopefully, volunteer walkers will help us meet this critical need for food.”

Walkers collect money from family, friends and other supporters as they walk to support this annual food drive. Pledge packets can be picked up at the Council of Churches at 3 Otseningo Street, Binghamton, near the Tompkins Street Bridge and Webster Street on the city’s southeast side.

A special distribution of pledge packets, flyers and posters also will be made available to the public at Center Court at the Oakdale Mall on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

The Hunger Walk, held on the Binghamton University campus, will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, with registration, followed by a 2.5- mile walk around campus kicking off at 2 p.m. Refreshments, food, entertainment and children’s activities will follow the walk.

Walkers can bring the pledge packets and money they collect to the Hunger Walk. Anyone who collects at least $50.00 will get a free tee shirt. Several community groups, churches, youth groups and Binghamton University student groups usually participate.

The purpose of the Hunger Walk is to help build up food inventories for the winter, typically a busy time of the year for CHOW. The food is used to stock 28 food pantries located in churches and congregations spread around Broome County so those in need will not have to travel far to help feed their families. Each month, CHOW provides food for about 3,300 people, with nearly half of them children.
Walkers are urged to call the Council of Churches at 724-9130 to pick up pledge packets. Council offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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