Humanitarian’s 100-Mile Walk For Hunger Relief to End in Glendora

This Sunday, local residents will be taking part in the East San Gabriel Valley CROP Hunger Walk beginning at in Glendora.

But one participant will have trekked a bit further than others.

Maurice Bloem, deputy director head of programs for Church World Service, began his walk March 4 at the Conejo Valley CROP Hunger Walk in Thousand Oaks, before he ends his trek more than 100 miles later this Sunday in Glendora.

Though he walks through blisters and fatigue, Bloem said he has remained upbeat throughout his journey, raising awareness to local and world hunger.

Inspired by the annual efforts of community CROP walks across the nation that have raised thousands of dollars annually for hunger relief efforts, Bloem said he wanted to focus attention on challenges of those who struggle just to eat.

Church World Service aims to eradicate hunger in local communities to the most poverty stricken areas of the world, but Bloem, a Netherlands native based in New York, insists the problem affects everyone.

“Last year alone, 1 in 5 families in the U.S. struggled to put food on the table. In Latino communities, it’s 1 in 4,” said Bloem. “Globally, at least 925 million people go hungry. The problem is enormous and growing. If we want make it better, we have to do something about it.”

Bloem said hunger relief efforts are not just about providing enough food, but the right food to nurture a healthy life.

“Studies show that a child suffering from malnutrition in his or her first year can affect them physically and even academically for the rest of their lives,” said Bloem. “Whole generations are affected by this.”

Bloem ‘s journey has taken him to Chatsworth, Newhall and the Santa Clarita Valley, Sherman Oaks, Glendale and Altadena, Pasadena and Duarte, before ending this Sunday in the 3-mile CROP Walk in Glendora.

Along the way, Bloem has visited local food pantries and volunteer groups to witness firsthand community efforts to help those financially struggling to put food on the table.

“I’ve heard stories of people never taking a day off because there is so much work to be done to help at a local level,” said Bloem.

The East San Gabriel Valley CROP Walk is Sunday, March 11 at . Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. with the walk beginning at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the CROP Walk web site.