Residents of Northport and surrounding Leelanau County communities are invited to lace up their walking shoes and join the 2026 Northport CROP Hunger Walk, themed “The Next Step,” on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.
The walk will begin at the south gazebo in the waterfront park in Northport and is sponsored by Trinity Church, United Church of Christ, with support from local volunteers and community partners.
The annual CROP Hunger Walk is part of a nationwide movement organized by Church World Service (CWS), a faithbased humanitarian organization working to end hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster around the world.
For more than five decades, CROP Hunger Walks have brought communities together to raise awareness and funds to help neighbors facing food insecurity both locally and globally.
This year’s Northport event carries the message “Walk. Give. Change the World.” Participants of all ages are encouraged to walk in solidarity with those who must travel long distances each day in search of food, water, and other necessities. Trinity’s goal this year is to raise $11,000. Funds raised through the walk will support CWS’s sustainable solutions, including hungerrelief efforts, emergency assistance, agricultural programs, clean water initiatives, and community development projects that help families build longterm food security. The 2026 national CROP Hunger Walk theme, “Chickens, Beans and Big Dreams,” highlights practical resources that can help communities move from hunger toward self-sufficiency. Through the work of CWS and its partners, donations support sustainable solutions such as livestock programs, seeds and tools for farming, water systems, and training programs that enable families to provide for themselves and their communities.
In addition to supporting international hunger-relief efforts, CROP Hunger Walks allow local communities to direct a portion of the funds raised to hungerfighting initiatives close to home. As a result, every dollar given has the potential to make an impact both in Leelanau County and around the world. This year, 25% of the funds raised through the Northport walk will be donated to Leelanau Christian Neighbors.
“Trinity Church, United Church of Christ has long viewed outreach and community service as a central part of its ministry,” said organizers from the church’s Education and Outreach Committee. “The CROP Hunger Walk gives people of all ages an opportunity to put faith into action, raise awareness about hunger, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
Community members may register, donate, or learn more about the Northport walk by visiting: crophungerwalk.org/chw/ event/northportmi
