Thousands of steps were taken, both large and small, to help fight world hunger Sunday during Cass County’s annual CROP Hunger Walk in Edwardsburg.

The more than 100 participants walked either one mile or three miles in an effort to understand the distance some people around the world have to walk to obtain daily necessities such as water, fuel and food.

CROP is an acronym for Christian Rural Overseas Program. Twenty-five percent of the money raised will stay in Cass County, while the remaining 75 percent will go toward fighting hunger worldwide.

“It is such a great event because you know the money is going to feed people and help people get clean drinking water,” said Leigh Goyings, CROP volunteer and walker. “There is no other event I am aware of that brings churches together from across the county.”

Eleven different Cass County churches were represented in the walk along with several youth groups and businesses, including Cass Family Clinic, Chemical Bank and Martin’s Supermarket.

The walk began at the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church on Lake Street and followed a path through the city.

A station was set up near Edwardsburg Middle School to show the negative effects of a lack of vitamin A on a child’s developing eyesight. Pastor Scott Scheel, of Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church, handed out glasses covered in petroleum jelly to simulate poor eyesight. He also handed out beeswax rich in vitamin A for people to chew on.

He said the CROP walk has raised enough money in 25 years to buy more than 9,300 beehives for impoverished people across the world.

It’s just one way the event is helping others.

“It’s been amazing to see the generosity from people helping out (with the CROP walk),” Scheel said. “All this beeswax was donated by a person I’ve never met before.

“It’s those things that show the generosity of people from this community.”

This is the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church’s second year in a row hosting the event, which is in its 26th year.

Last year’s event raised $14,800. This year’s total won’t be known for a couple weeks as people still have until the end of the month to donate.

For more information, contact Scheel at 663-6815.