The 11th annual 5k Mission Bay Hunger Walk walk/jog, in partnership with Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA), will be Saturday, April 23 from 8 to 10 a.m. at DeAnza Cove in Mission Bay Park. Sign-in is after 7:15 a.m.
The CCSA Hunger Walk, started in 2006, has been attended by mayors and council members,
along with thousands of San Diegans. Participants meet each year to raise awareness and seek donations to combat the persistent and now-growing problem of hunger amidst abundance.
“The CCSA 5k Hunger Walk 2016 is a fun walk and annual fundraising event,” said Jeanne McAlindin, CCSA vice president. “The purpose of this walk is to provide funding for CCSA to continue with its outreach programs to people in need in San Diego through the distribution of food, clothing, referral services and other emergency needs.”
“Hunger affects more than homeless people, it is the constant companion of tens of thousands of San Diego’s working poor and unemployed and, perhaps most sadly, children,” said Larry Emlaw of Pacific Beach, a CCSA executive board member who noted, “Almost one-half million (people) now live in poverty.”
CCSA was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit by seven churches. During its 40-plus years of service, CCSA has grown to include more than 30 member churches in the greater San Diego area. The agency is supported by hundreds of individual donors, businesses, small grants, various fundraising efforts and by its aforementioned churches.
With three paid staff members, the organization relies primarily on hundreds of generous volunteers to deliver its services. CCSA proudly points out that more than 97 percent of donations go to its needy clients.
CCSA offers food, clothing, hygiene items, medical attention, employment assistance, referrals for social services and outside aid. The donations received by CCSA for the Hunger Walk are essential to enable CCSA to provide services to the many needy persons who come to its doors seeking assistance.
It is estimated there are some 9,500 homeless in San Diego County – 18 percent of whom are veterans. There are another quarter-million working poor in the county on the edge of homelessness. Many of these are families who cram into houses or apartments with other families to to afford rent and help make ends meet.
Hunger affects tens of thousands of San Diego’s working poor and unemployed. A recent San Diego Food Bank survey indicates that, of San Diego County’s 3.1 million residents, almost one-half million live in poverty – 15.1 percent of the population. Of that number, 137,084 are children. Those individuals face “food insecurity,” which means little or no food is available at home and uncertainty as to where their next meal will come from.
There is no registration fee for the event. Walkers are encouraged to solicit family members, friends and neighbors to sponsor the walk by making donations to CCSA. This can be accomplished through CCSA’s member churches or a visit to the website CCSASanDiego.org.
The first 200 walkers to register on the website will receive a free CCSA Reusable Water Bottle.
There will be a drawing for gift cards generously donated by local businesses including restaurants. The drawing will be held at the end of the walk.