The time for the annual Crop Walk is fast approaching.

This year, Northfield's Fifth Annual Crop Walk will take place on October 11 beginning at 2 p.m. at the Plumley Armory at Norwich.

To get things ready and to let everyone know how to become a Crop Walk volunteer, about Church World Service's disaster relief, water well development and agriculture training, there will be a special progressive dinner on October 2.

The Reverend Bert Marshall will be on hand to explain what Crop Walk is all about following the dinner.

The progressive dinner will begin in Howes Hall at the United Church at 5:15 p.m. where appetizers will be served. This will be followed by the free United Methodist Church Friday Night dinner at the church.

Following dinner, dessert will be served at St. Mary's Episcopal Church followed by the talk by Rev. Marshall.

Last year more than $5,400 was contributed to support the hunger-fighting efforts of Church World Service, both here in Northfield and around the world.

From that amount last year, CERV here in Northfield received approximately $1,450 to aid local residents in need. The balance made it possible for the global work of Church World Service.

Monies raised that go to Church World Service are spent feeding families Haiti, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Myanmar, to help AIDS orphans in Africa, to help indigenous peoples in South America to preserve their heritage and livelihoods, and will assist families across the central U.S. and Gulf Coast whose homes were flooded (or worse) by storms and hurricanes.

Our local food shelf which receives 25% of CROP Walk funds will help an ever increasing case load which has grown by 23% since 2003.

CERV now serves 10,379 different households each month in Vermont according to recent reports.

Participants will be from Norwich University, Northfield United Methodist Parish, St. John's Parish, United Church of Northfield, St. Mary's Episcopal Church and the Northfield Bible Fellowship among others.