CWS CEO John McCullough rallies the determined Mayfield CROP Walkers. Photo: Carol Cownie
For the members of the Mayfield, N.Y., Central Presbyterian Church and others who had seen a tragedy unfolding for several days, there was no question that their commitment to helping the world’s hungry would continue.
Because despite a lightning strike and a resulting fire that destroyed the church building on April 28, Mayfield residents went ahead with a CROP Hunger Walk three days later – a sign of determination that prompted CWS Executive Director and CEO, the Rev. John L. McCullough to attend the May 1 event.
“I was so moved by their drive to continue the Walk despite all they have been through this week, I knew I had to come” said McCullough, who rallied walkers before the grounds of the destroyed church. “It’s these pockets of Walks that make such a difference, raising a billion dollars since the grassroots effort was organized in 1946.”
The Walk had been scheduled to begin at the Presbyterian church, which was built in 1823, though the church’s congregation dates back even earlier – to 1792. The charred ruins of the church in the upstate New York community (population 6,400) were in stark contrast to the bright sunny day, but the Walk went ahead from the church lawn.
The CROP Hunger Walk steps off from Mayfield Church. Photo: Carol Cownie
Earlier in the day, the Rev. Bonnie Orth, the Mayfield church’s pastor, told congregants who gathered for a service at the neighboring United Methodist Church “our faith, tested by fire, is renewed.”
“The building was destroyed by fire but look around you. We are the church.”
Orth said there was never any doubt — any question — that the CROP Hunger Walk would continue. “It didn’t even cross our mind not to do it,” she said. “This is a very mission-minded church, and if anyone can get through this, it’s this church.”
Another reason the continued Walk — one of some 1,600 Walks held yearly across the U.S. that support both local hunger programs as well as the global hunger and poverty work of Church World Service – had such poignancy was the community food pantry had been located at the Presbyterian church.
Twenty-five percent of the money raised during the Sunday Walk will go to the Mayfield food pantry, which will be relocated elsewhere.
The commitment to local and global efforts to fight poverty was a testimony “to heroic volunteers who believe in us so very much,” said Douglas Anderson, regional director for CWS and CROP Hunger Walks in upstate New York. As well, those walking showed a commitment to “serving the neediest people on the planet, abroad and at home in rural, poverty-stricken Fulton County of upstate New York, one of the poorest per-capita income counties in our region.”
The blaze destroyed the church food pantry. Photo: Carol Cownie
CWS is continuing its efforts, urging legislators not to slash domestic and foreign aid food programs in the 2012 U.S. federal budget. Anderson said the loss of even one food pantry for Fulton County is significant and a “microcosm of why in these times our nation must continue to provide assistance for those who are most in need.”
For his part, McCullough commended the residents of Mayfield. “Even in the face of deep personal suffering and loss,” he said, “people understand the imperative to feed the hungry and care for the poor. Mayfield was able to look through their own tears, to focus, and then to embrace the needs of others.”
Carol Cownie, who heads missions outreach work at the Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church, said she was also proud of Mayfield and the efforts of CWS supporters.
“I am so grateful to live in a community that shares Gandhi’s challenge: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’”