Page 29 - 2021-Mag-88-2

DKG Practice/Program

Sam Ryburn died in 2000, but, from that year until I retired in 2010, students
walked in the CROP Walk carrying a banner that read “Keeping Sam Ryburn’s
Dream Alive.” One child even wrote a song, “Oh, Sam, we will never forget you!”
These students and their story graced the CWS 2001 calendar for the month
of October. They were featured along with other pictures from all over the
world—Romania, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Burma, Bosnia,
and Mozambique—taken by renowned photographer Annie
Griffiths Belt.

A Fundraising Project to Fight Hunger
Fast Forward to 2020 and the COVID-19 Pandemic—I
watched in disbelief as people waited in long lines of cars at
food banks for food to feed their families. I heard the tragic
stories of those not having enough to eat. I worried about the
elderly and the young. I wondered what I could do?
Then I received an email about a virtual CROP Walk and
thought, “Kappa Chapter can do this safely. We can come up
with individual walking plans. We can walk anywhere, any Students from
place, any time.” Our steps would help raise money to provide meals for families Charlotte were
in our community and around the world. Twenty-five percent of funds raised in featured for October in
Charlotte go to three local food assistance agencies: Loaves and Fishes, Second a CWS 2001 calendar.
Harvest Food Bank, and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Reprinted with
Thirteen of my Kappa colleagues and one spouse registered to walk for Team permission: Annie
Kappa. Other members sponsored the walkers. Octogenarian Ann McCain reached Griffiths/Ripple Effect
Images.
out through a letter-writing campaign to become our highest fundraiser of $1,190.
Betty Bell, recovering from bypass surgery, walked on a treadmill in cardiac rehab,
raising $550. Charlene Wertz, a caregiver for her husband and her sister, contacted
her network of friends to bring in $700. Clara Hedberg sponsored five walkers.
Martha Tillman, a long-time CROP Walk supporter and our t-shirt chair, told me
this was her passion.
Our initial goal was $1000, but we raised an amazing total of $5,500. We were
walking apart as individuals but walking together in spirit to make a difference in
our community and our world. I discovered that Sam Ryburn’s dream lives in me.
Team Kappa and my fellow Kappa Chapter sponsors are keeping his dream alive
by continuing participation in this year’s CROP Hunger Walk.

Gloria Jones, currently co-president of Kappa Chapter in North Carolina State Organization, taught for 32 years in
the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, primarily in gifted education. She received the Church World Service Presidential
Leadership Award presented by Ambassador Andrew Young in 2000 for her work with students on hunger. She was the
2007 recipient of the Sam Ryburn Walker Award for Charlotte’s CROP Hunger Walk.gmj1948@hotmail.com

Collegial Exchange · 27