Some 150 walkers from Snoqualmie Valley churches, businesses and neighborhoods raised nearly $8,000 to fight hunger in last month’s Crop Hunger Walk.

A spring downpour didn’t deter a record turnout at the Sunday, May 15, benefit, organized by four area churches—Snoqualmie United Methodist, St. Clare’s Episcopal, Our Lady of Sorrows and Mount Si Lutheran.

Marching under umbrellas, walkers hiked three miles; their sponsorships help hunger-fighting projects locally and globally.

“Since Crop Walks are still relatively unknown locally, we always generate what I call the ‘Huh’ factor,” said Phil Harrington, pastor at Snoqualmie United Methodist Church. “Every year, I try to imagine what people in passing cars are thinking. Why are so many people out taking a walk this afternoon? Where’s everybody going? This year, with most of the walkers under umbrellas, the puzzlement was magnified. It’s fun to create attention by doing something so common as walking.”

“This was so cool,” said walker Betsy Brocco, who took part on behalf of the Black Dog Cafe. “Walking through different neighborhoods as a group, seeing things from a new vantage point. We ought to do one of these every month.”

Local businesses who supported the Crop Walk included Snoqualmie Valley Eye Care, Carmichael’s Hardware, Alpine Cooperative Pre-School, Black Dog Cafe, QFC and Chinook Lumber.

“Crop Hunger Walks are community events because hunger is a community issue,” Harrington said.

Seventy-five percent of proceeds go to worldwide hunger projects, while 25 percent of proceeds go to local food banks.

Learn more at cropwalk.org.