Holy Trinity Parishioners Walk In Park To Stop Hunger

East Meadow, NY – Members of Holy Trinity Church here spent the morning of Saturday, October 15, 2011 walking in Eisenhower Park to raise monies to overcome poverty. The event, in its second year, is done in cooperation with Church World Service’s CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk program.

Arlene Kallaur, Holy Trinity’s lead organizer for the project said, “We had nearly 80 people from various parishes – Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike – join us on a bright, sunny day to raise awareness of poverty.”

Nearly $8,000 was raised by participants. Of the total, twenty-five percent will remain on Long Island, designated to support the Long Island Council of Churches’ Food Pantry in Freeport. The remainder will be used by Church World Service (CWS) for their programs to help alleviate hunger and poverty around the world. “The funds are especially critical for Kenya and the people of Somalia, where they are suffering from the worst drought conditions in over forty years,” said Mrs Kallaur.

In addition to Father Martin Kraus, rector, and members of Holy Trinity, other area Orthodox church clergy and parishioners were present, including St. Paul Orthodox Cathedral, Hempstead, the Orthodox Church of the Resurrection, Old Brookville, St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church, Seaford, and a large group of youth from several Malankara Orthodox Churches on Long Island. Representing the Long Island Council of Churches (LICC), were its executive director, the Rev. Tom Goodhue, and representing CWS were members of its Board of Directors, including the chairman, the Right Rev. Johncy Itty, and its First Vice Chairman, John Paterakis.
Following the walk, a donated meal was provided for all in attendance, and a karaoke booth was available for fellowship and fun. Organizers say that plans are already underway for next year’s walk to raise even more awareness and financial support.

“Overall we had a great day,” according to Mrs. Kallaur, she added, “From working with the registration volunteers and the Nassau County Explorers from Troop 1000 who joined us, everyone took a step closer to stomping out hunger.”

Photos from this year's CROP Walk are available here.

More information about the CROP Walk
program is available here

Complete schedule of events