Participants walk through the arch of balloons at the start of the 2021 Harvest Walk at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin. Harvest Walk, a fundraiser for the Interchurch Food Pantry, will be at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the church. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Wave after wave of local residents in need line up outside Interchurch Food Pantry every weekday in need of help.
The number of people facing food insecurity and hunger has never been higher at the pantry. Some are older adults on a fixed income who otherwise cannot afford groceries. Others have recently lost a job and need a helping hand as they weather the crisis. A lot are individuals who are employed but don’t make enough to cover all of their bills.
Even as the need grows, pantry leaders are determined to meet the demand.
“Our numbers are higher than ever before,” said Carol Phipps, executive director of the Interchurch Food Pantry. “Every year, there are more people in our community of Johnson County that are struggling to get by, so we see more of them every day.”
The record-breaking number of clients underscores the importance of the annual Harvest Walk — the Interchurch Food Pantry’s core fundraiser.
The Harvest Walk will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, with registration opening at 3 p.m. Hundreds of people will gather to take part in either a three-mile loop or a one-mile wheelchair-friendly route. A performance by the Retro Brothers, a ’70s and ’80s party band, plus lawn games and refreshments will keep the atmosphere lively even after the walk ends.
Most of all, the efforts will ensure that no one goes hungry in the community, Phipps said.
That mission has been at the core of the Interchurch Food Pantry for the past 41 years. And every year, it seems that the need for food relief in the area has only grown. Last year alone, the organization was able to provide more than 1.8 million meals for the community.
The pantry, which is open five days a week and some Saturdays, fed about 150 families per day in 2023. And the number has gone up in 2024, Phipps said.
“We’re so pleased that we’re able to provide a nutritious assortment of food for them to select from, plus lots of fresh produce they can select from in our farmer’s market-style area under the canopy,” Phipps said. “The stories we hear from people coming tug at your heart.”
Interchurch Food Pantry relies on donations, both food and money, to purchase what they need. The Harvest Walk helps pantry leaders do both as the organization’s prime yearly fundraiser, Phipps said.
The Harvest Walk had its beginnings more than 30 years ago, when it was called the CROP Walk. Even though the name has changed, it remains a tradition for generations of families, Phipps said.
Organizers have tweaked a few of the details this year to better cater to participants. The starting time has been pushed back a few hours to give people, particularly local church youth groups, a chance to take part.
Participants will again meet at Grace United Methodist Church, where they will pass under an arch of green, yellow and orange balloons before heading out. The route includes part of the Franklin Greenway Trail and a walkway through Franklin College’s campus. Dogs on leashes are welcome. A water station will be placed near the campus chapel.
The Retro Brothers will provide entertainment following the walk.
“We encourage people to bring a lawn chair, get some refreshments. We’ll have some lawn games set up, so afterward we’ll be mingling and having some fun,” Phipps said.
Participants often bring food donations to help stock the pantry’s truck, on top of the contributions made by everyone who walks. Last year, the Harvest Walk generated $6,800 and nearly 500 pounds of food donations.
“We get hundreds of pounds of food every year at the Harvest Walk, which we turn around and give out to those who need it in our community,” Phipps said.
IF YOU GO
Harvest Walk
What: An annual fundraiser for the Interchurch Food Pantry, in which participants walk either a three-mile or a one-mile wheelchair-friendly course through Franklin.
When: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Registration and check-in begins at 3.
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin
Cost: Registration is $25 for individuals and $40 for families. Additional donations may also be made.
How to register: Go to jcpantry.org/harvest-walk
