Four churches in the Corfu/Pembroke area are combining efforts to make people aware of hunger in their own hometown.
On Saturday, May 11, the Corfu United Presbyterian Church, Indian Falls United Methodist Church and St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Corfu and East Pembroke are sponsoring a Walk Hunger Away 5K.
Deborah Russ, of Corfu, a member of the Corfu United Presbyterian Church, is the event organizer, with help from volunteers in the other churches.
She explained there used to be a Crop Walk in Genesee County, which is an international effort to fight hunger.
“But there is such a need in our own area,” Russ said.
Proceeds from Saturday’s 5K will be divided among three food programs in Corfu, Pembroke and Falls.
The Corfu United Presbyterian Church maintains a food pantry, which is open at 9 a.m. the third Saturday and at 5:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month.
The Pembroke Bagged Meal Program provides weekend meals to more than 65 children in the Pembroke Central School District.
“We started out with middle school and have expanded to include high school kids,” Russ said. “Now we are hoping to include the primary school.”
St. Maximillian Kolbe Church supports the Food Pantry with a monetary donation every month, Russ said. She said a lot of senior citizens benefit from the Food Pantry.
The third program to be helped by Saturday’s walk is the Rise Against Hunger, for which Indian Falls United Methodist Church packs thousands of meals for people in developing nations.
Russ said it is their hope participants in the Hunger Walk will get sponsors, but it isn’t a requirement.
“We just want people to come and learn about hunger,” she said. “They can walk with no money or they can make a $5 donation.”
There are no expenses incurred so every penny made will be distributed to the three programs.
Also on Saturday, the Corfu Girl Scout Troop 42035 will sponsor a food drive at the Corfu United Presbyterian Church.
Donations of nonperishable items or single-serve items for the Pembroke Bagged Meal Program are suggested. Examples of requested single-serve items are mini cereal bars, fruit cups, granola bars, noodle/pasta cups and juice boxes.
For information, contact Valerie Mutka at (585) 813-4075.
Registration for the Hunger Away 5K is at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. The route starts at Corfu United Presbyterian Church and returns there. It is located at 63 Alleghany Road.
The walk is unique in that six stops are planned along the route, where walkers can stop and learn important facts about the three programs the 5K supports.
