(St. George, UT November 2024) — The most successful CROP Walk ever held in Utah happened here in St. George on Saturday, November 9. Hosted by the St. George Interfaith Council, this 16th Annual St. George CROP Walk raised $10,200 this year and $95,000 from all previous St. George CROP Walks. These donations help fight poverty here in St. George and throughout the world through Church World Services. In addition to receiving the most donations ever, this year’s CROP Walk also had more congregations participating than in the past.

Participating congregations included Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Saint George Catholic Church, Baha’i Community, New Promise Lutheran Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Solomon’s Porch Foursquare Fellowship, Grace Episcopal Church, Beit Chaverim Jewish Congregation of Greater Zion, Unity Church, Center for Spiritual Living, American Baptist and some come who do not attend any church.

This year’s CROP Walk was supported by local businesses for the first time, which certainly helped the total donation reach its new record. The participating businesses who donated included New Wave Pools, TruAudio, B&D Holding Co., Inc., Marine United, Chick-fil-A, and Soltis Investment Advisors. These local companies were invited to be part of the CROP Walk by Deven Macdonald, a member of the CROP Walk Committee and owner of both Chick-fil-A’s here in St. George.

Reverend Dr. Ralph Clingan from Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church led this year’s CROP Walk. Reverend Clingan, who led CROP Walks in Maryland before coming to St. George offered, “I continue to be moved and inspired by the incredible generosity and love of neighbors expressed by our community and area in their overflowing support and care for the poor and hungry here and across our world. God bless you all!”

Washington City Mayor Kress Staheli and St. George Councilwoman Natalie Larsen launched the walkers on their 6-mile walk, which is the distance people in third world countries walk every day to get food, water and work. Some come to donate, some come just to be part of this wonderful interfaith service project… while others come to walk and donate.

Those who did walk the CROP Walk were treated on their walk at four refreshment tables provided by Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Solomon’s Porch Foursquare Fellowship, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is the only hunger walk in America where walkers can gain weight.

Reverend Jimi Kestin who leads Solomon’s Porch Foursquare Fellowship and whose Friday Pantry and “Sunday Feast” receives 25% of the CROP donations, pointed out, “The CROP Walk shows our community the amazing spirit of cooperation that the various faith groups have developed in Utah’s Dixie which transcends our religious differences. And secondly, it highlights the tremendous food insecurity, both right here in our community and worldwide.”

St. George Interfaith Council is thrilled with the success of their 2024 CROP Walk and invites everyone to their next event, “Prayer Over the City” at noon on January 1, 2025, to be held in the St. George Tabernacle. Let’s all begin our new year surrounded by neighbors of other churches as 16 faith leaders offer prayers to help guide us into 2025.