INTERFAITH CONNECTION

Interfaith Works is an association of congregations, affiliated

non-profit organizations and individuals. Our purpose is to
promote interfaith understanding, and serve the community through
charitable, social and educational endeavors.
JULY 2010

OUR LOCAL CROP 2010 CROP WALK

RECIPIENTS
Since 1981, $256,000 in funds
raised through CROP Walk has
gone to support local agencies and
programs fighting hunger
Sunday Dinner Feeding Ministry,
Olympia First Baptist Church
Meals on Wheels Senior
Nutrition Program,
Senior Services for South Sound
Out of the Woods Emergency
Food and Shelter, Olympia Uni-
tarian Universalist Congregation
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Emergency Outreach
Community Kitchen of Salvation
Army / Olympia
Community Dinner Program,
St. Benedict's Episcopal Church
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Thurston County Food Bank
Our Community Comes Through Again
This year, CROP Walk marked its 30th year of responding to
poverty and raising funds for hunger relief.
Contributions from the May 2 Walk are still being counted, but
are likely to exceed $52,000, a significant increase over last
year's total of $44,000.
The “granddaddy” of all local charity walks and marathons,
CROP Walk was the first walk-a-thon event in Thurston
County, and has raised over one million dollars since 1981.
Three quarters of the funds raised have gone to support the
international programs of Church World Service (see p. 3) or
partner agencies, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting de-
velopment efforts around the world. This year’s international
focus was on earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile. In addi-
tion, we return 25 percent of the funds raised (over a quarter
million dollars since 1981) to hunger programs in our own
community, such as the Thurston County Food Bank and
church-sponsored meal programs.
An event involving more than 500 walkers of all ages, cover-
ing a route of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), doesn’t just happen
spontaneously. Months of hard work by dedicated volunteer
leaders translated into success.
We are especially indebted to the 2010 Committee:
(Continued on page 2)

Published Monthly by Interfaith Works, P.O. Box 1221, Olympia, WA 98507

office@interfaith-works.org (360) 357-7224 www.Interfaith-Works.org
CROP PARTICIPATING 2010 CROP (Continued from page 1)

ORGANIZATIONS Co-chairs Wayne Gruen and Kathy Erlandson

Treasurer Carol Gruen
Community for Interfaith Publicity Dave Groves
Celebration Registration Joan Drittenbas
First Church of Christ, Scientist Recruitment John Bowden
Equipment Richard McCartan, Tom Linden
First United Methodist Merchandise Lorna Linden
Gloria Dei Lutheran
Special recognition and thanks also go to:
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Lacey Community Church  Our Honorary Chair Lynn Magnuson, Managing Regional
Director for Church World Service/CROP.
Lacey Presbyterian  Diana Kildow, for organizing the participation of both the
North Thurston High School Olympia Highlanders Pipe & Drum Corps, and Girl
Olympia First Baptist Scout Troop #41084, which staffed the refreshment
stand.
Olympia Friends Meeting
 L&E Bottling for donating soft drinks.
Olympia Unitarian Universalist  Volunteers from Senior Services of South Sound, who
Congregation staffed refreshment booths on the route.
Pink Panthers  Salvation Army and First United Methodist Church van
River Ridge High School drivers, who picked up folks who couldn’t finish the walk.
In addition, Thurston County Radio Watch continually
Sacred Heart Catholic Church drove the route watching for walkers in need of help.
South Sound Buddhist Peace  Marcie LaViollette & Friends, who played music for walk-
Fellowship ers at the halfway mark, and Walt Bowen, who provided
St. Andrew’s United Methodist the public address system for the opening ceremony.
 Staffing the merchandising booth were Virginia Nordman,
St. Benedict’s Episcopal
Lisa Midles, and Jan and Pete Spiller. Registrars this
St. John's Episcopal year were Jackie Mitchell, Rob Harper, Barbara Breslin
St. Marks Lutheran and Ruth Cocuzzi.
St. Michael’s Parish / Society of The mainstay of CROP Walk are the teams organized
Saint Vincent de Paul through local faith communities. Many of these same congre-
Temple Beth Hatfiloh gations help in other ways throughout the year, volunteering
Tumwater United Methodist at food banks and food collection drives.
United Churches of Olympia Thanks to all the leaders and volunteers, local faith communi-
Washington State ties and organizations, and the hundreds of individual walkers
Attorney General’s Office / who made this year’s CROP Walk such a success. We could-
Corrections Division n’t do it without each and every one of you!
Westminster Presbyterian We’ll see you next year, on the first Sunday in May!

July 2010, p. 2
 ABOUT CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
TALL
Founded in 1946, Church World
Service (CWS) is a cooperative
ministry of 36 Christian denomi-
CROPS
nations and communions, provid-
ing sustainable self-help, devel- 2010
opment, disaster relief, and refu-
gee assistance around the world.
In honor of his

CWS’ mission is to eradicate last CROP Walk
poverty, hunger and to promote before retire-
peace and justice at the national ment, The United
and international level through Churches helped
collaboration with partners
abroad and in the U.S.
Rev. Mark Dowdy
raised $3,613.
Church World Service works with partners in the U.S. and
around the world to build interfaith and intercultural coalitions
 Kia Juarez, a junior at
to eradicate hunger and poverty and promote peace and jus- River Ridge High School,
tice. Together, we’re supporting sustainable grassroots devel- recruited 43 walkers from
opment, disaster relief, and refugee assistance. her school.
CROP Hunger Walks help to provide food and water, as well  Wyat Tayor, also at River
as resources that empower people to meet their own needs. Ridge, was the big raiser
From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to techni- with $404.
cal training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people
working together to identify their own development priorities,  Courtney Gruen, age 13
their strengths and their needs. The website is 1/2, raised $2,020 from
www.churchworldservice.org First United Methodist

CROP Walkers from The United

Churches of Olympia gather on the steps
of the Capitol with Rev. Mark Dowdy
(standing, far right; see above) before
the walk starts.

July 2010, p. 3

The Olympia Highlanders lead the CROP Walk
Walkers of all ages participate in CROP Walk
$70,422
$70,422
Perennially, Thurston County is the
first or second largest CROP Walk in
Washington State, and consistently
among the top 50 in the whole na-
tion – out of about 2000 Walks held
each year!
Bainbridge Island
July 2010, p. 4
SUPPORT OUT OF THE
WOODS MATCHING GRANT
Out of the Woods, an emergency housing and food
service run by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist
Congregation, and a local CROP Walk funds recipi-
ent, has recently received a matching grant from the
Lucky Seven Foundation. The grant will match, dol-
lar for dollar, up to $5,000 raised by OTW from new
donors (people who have not given to OTW for the
past three years) or people who donate or pledge an
amount at least twice what they donated last year.
To receive grant funds, we have to provide docu-
mentation showing names and the amount donated.
This is a great opportunity to double the benefits of
new donations and further the work of Out of the
Woods. Donations can be made on-line through the
website, www.OutOfTheWoods.com, or by check.
Mail to Out of the Woods, 2300 East End St NW,
Olympia, WA 98502. Out of the Woods is a separate
501(c)3 organization.
Top CROP Walks in Washington State, 2008
$59,529
$59,529
$34,475
$34,475
$31,738
$31,738
$19,735
$19,735
Thurston Renton Spokane Seattle
County/Olympia
 COMMUNITY CALENDAR
A listing of some of the activities and events of Interfaith Works members, affiliated organizations, and of general interest.
IW does not necessarily endorse these events. More details and events at www.Interfaith-Works.org.

June 19 Walking a Sacred Path to Quiet the Mind and Open the Soul. Learn why the ancient
Saturday labyrinth has endured as a symbol of life’s sacred journey. Priory Spirituality Center, 500
9:15-3 pm College St NE, Lacey 98516. $60, pre-registration required. 438-255 www.stplacid.org.
Jun 28-Jul 2 Mediation Training. 40 hour professional mediation training with the Dispute Resolution
Mon-Fri Center. 8 am—5 pm. Cost $625. Contact 360-956-1155. www.mediatethurston.org.
July 4 Join Interfaith Works in Tumwater’s 4th of July Parade. Bring your faith community
Sunday and/or yourself as we celebrate diversity and interfaith partnership. Contact IW office,
10:30 am 360-357-7224;office@interfaith-works.org. Info at www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/Parks.htm
July 10 The United Churches of Olympia Yard Sale. Our annual yard sale fundraiser with lots of
Saturday good items! If you have items to contribute, drop them off on Friday, July 9. 110 11th Ave
8 am-3 pm SE, Olympia, 98501. BBQ to follow.
July 16-18 Chant and Pilgrim Songs Retreat. A unique weekend at St. Andrew House Retreat Cen-
Fri-Sun ter on Hood Canal singing Gregorian chant, pilgrim songs from Spain and Italy, and more!
Registration $260 includes lodging, meals, instruction. Info at www.centerforsacredart.org.
July 18 Voices of the Cambodian Holocaust with Speakers Daran Kravanh, “Killing Fields” survi-
Sunday vor, and Rokaih Vansot. Pleasant Glade Elementary School, 1920 Abernathy Rd NE,
3 pm Lacey. Free will offering.
July 24 God the Artist: We the Co-Creators. A retreat in clay to stimulate our creative souls.
Saturday Meet at the Priory Spirituality Center, travel to clay studio. 500 College St NE, Lacey 98516.
9 am-3 pm $60, bring lunch. www.stplacid.org, 438-2595.
July 24-25 24th Annual Ethnic Fest. Enjoy performing arts, visual arts, crafts, dancing, information
Sat-Sun and foods representing cultures from around the globe. Admission is free. Wright Park, 501
Noon-7 pm S “I” St., Tacoma 98405. www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=724

NOW YOU CAN SUBMIT EVENTS ON-LINE! Visit our website for
Thanks to our dedicated webmaster Scott Bishop, there is a beta version of more events
an events form on the website to fill out and submit. not listed here,
links to our
From the Events, Current page on our website, click on the link called “Click
here if you want to send an announcement to IW”. Then, click on the “Submit member faith
Event” link. This opens a form for you to fill out. After all the fields have been communities and
filled in, click Submit Request. organizations,
Your event must be approved, but can now be posted to the website much Sign up for our
faster. I apologize for prior omissions or delays. This is brand new, so let us newsletter
know if you encounter problems, or have suggestions on how to improve it. via postal or e-mail
July 2010, p. 5
 Non-Profit Org.
Interfaith Works U.S. Postage
PO Box 1221 PAID
Olympia WA 98507 Permit No. 325
Olympia, WA 98501

www.interfaith-works.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

OUR COMMUNITY JOIN INTERFAITH WORKS IN THE

4TH OF JULY PARADE!
Join a delegation from Interfaith Works march-
ing in Tumwater's 4th of July Parade!

Support Interfaith Works with a Paid Ad $10. Deadline: 2nd Tuesday

We invite you and your faith community
to join in the fun.
Help celebrate diversity and interfaith
partnership. Families and kids are
especially welcome.
COMES THROUGH!
Interested? Let us know soon
$52,000 RAISED IN MAY 2 by contacting the IW office,
CROP WALK office@interfaith-works.org,
or 357-7224.
and still counting!
Thank you, The parade starts
at 11:00 am. (arrive
walkers and sponsors early to march)
(Read more inside)