The second annual Vienna CROP Walk made its way through town last Sunday, in spite of cold and rainy weather. The 126 walkers in the event raised about $19,000, and organizer Betty Rahal said she expects another $5,000 or so to roll in by the year's end. The current total is slightly more than was raised by this point last year, even though considerably fewer walkers participated this year.
Seventy-five percent of the money raised will go to Church World Services, an international relief, development and refugee assistance ministry. The remaining 25 percent will go to the Vienna area's Committee for Helping Others, which provides assistance for local residents in need.
The walk was largely organized by members of Vienna Presbyterian Church, and several other area churches participated. Also contributing were the Vienna Rotary Club, which gave $500 to help pay for the CROP Walk benefit concert in October, and Joe's Pizza, which donated some of its profits to the event.
Rahal said the reception at Vienna Presbyterian after the walk was well-attended. "As soggy as people were, there was still a triumphant tone about it," she said.