“Think Globally, Act Locally” has become a maxim for people trying to make a better world for themselves and their children.
“Think globally” because most of the problems that beset us (low wages, pollution, climate change, food shortages and unavailability) are global problems affecting people all around the world. “Act locally” because change doesn’t happen by keeping problems at a distance.
Hunger is a good example of this.
In our community, people run short of food because they live in neighborhoods without easy access to grocery stores. They go hungry because they can’t afford to buy enough food after paying their other bills. They simply don’t earn enough money. Globally, this is true as well: Lack of food in one part of the world may be caused both by what will grow there, and by what people can afford to buy.
Going forward to make a better world challenges us to combine the global and the local. One of the pioneering groups in the world to do this is CROP, an ecumenical and interfaith ministry of Church World Service, which funds hunger relief, agricultural, and economic development programs in the US and around the world. CROP raises money through CROP Walks, where people collect sponsors who give money to support our walking efforts.
At our local Elgin Crop Walk, a quarter of the funds raised stay right here in Elgin, funding organizations like ours, as well as the various Soup Kettles and food pantries of Elgin Cooperative Ministries and Centro de Informacion. In the old days, people would walk five miles–the distance that people in some parts of the world walk each day to get water. Today, we invite you to join us for however many miles you’re capable of walking.
The Elgin CROP Hunger walk will take place on Sunday, October 17, beginning at 1:30 p.m. and lasting as long as it takes. Some people run; others of us stroll. See https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/elginil for more information.
On a personal note, my family has a history with CROP walks: My wife, Peggy McClanahan, helped organize CROP walks in Oklahoma. Our children participated in walks when they were toddlers, secured to baby carriages or baby carriers. Today, we’re eager to walk as part of Food for Greater Elgin’s team. Won’t you join us?
-Michael