WACO C.R.O.P Drive returns this October

WAYLAND — Churches from Wayland, Olds, Crawfordsville and Swedesburg area will band together once again for the annual Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (C.R.O.P.) Drive from Oct. 1-29 in hopes of meeting a $34,000 goal once again.

These local churches will work together with Church World Service Organization’s C.R.O.P Drive to collect donations to help those around the world and local communities.

“C. R. O. P. assists the United States and millions of people around the world as they struggle with hunger and need from conflicts like what Ukraine is experiencing,” WACO C.R.O.P. Publicity Chair Myrna Joy Wenger stated in a news release about the drive.

According to Wenger, donations also will help in other international instances of great need such as the earthquake in Morocco.

“They also aid the disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and fire victims in the U.S.A.,” she also stated.

Additionally, the WACO Ministerial Association will distribute 25% of contributions raised through the C.R.O.P Drive back into WACO Community assistance programs with an emphasis on the WACO Food Pantry Program.

When the drive starts in October, chosen captains from the various churches will reach out to members of the community for monetary or commodity donations.

According to WACO C.R.O.P Drive Director Larry Roth, monetary donations of cash or check can be made directly to himself, through local participating churches, through the captains reaching out or at www.crophungerwalk.org/waylandia

The commodity part of this drive consists of farmers donating parts of their harvest when they transport beans and corn to the local grain elevators.

“We have large contributions, we have small contributions, and we want to stress that every contribution is important,” Roth stressed.

According to Wenger, the group sought to obtain a $34,000 goal last year as well and far exceeded that with the largest donation amount of $46,317.10 since 1982.

Roth says that last year was a bit of an anomaly due to high crop prices and good yields from local fields, so, the team wanted to keep a realistic goal they felt the community could meet.

Even with the same goal from last year, Roth expressed pride in the ability of the WACO Community to consistently exceed C.R.O.P Drive goals.

“Our specialist from Church World Service sent me some information and WACO ranked 23rd in the nation in 2022,” he said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com