More than 150 people participating Sunday in the ninth annual CROP Hunger Walk had plenty to celebrate: for the first time since 2011, the interfaith event raised more than $10,000 to ease hunger and homelessness in Colorado Springs and could be on track to break the $12,000 record with donations accepted through the end of the year.

The Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires, in addition to the devastating floods of 2013, slowed donations the past two years, said Careyn Mason, a member of First Faith Presbyterian who has coordinated the event since 2005.

“We’ve been blessed with a peaceful year without disasters, and I think that helps people feel that causes like ours are worth donating to,” Mason said. “We also received lots of support from all our member churches; First United Methodist donated nearly $4,000, and that was a huge contribution.”

Sunday’s walk began and ended at Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on North Tejon Street, where it’s been staged the past four years. Marti Lindberg, a 35-year member of the host church, said the event is a perfect example of how Colorado Springs churches can work together to help their community.

“We all have different denominations – Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and others – but this is how interfaith networks really become part of the community,” Lindberg said.

The CROP Walk is part of a worldwide charity event. Church World Service will receive 75 percent of donations, and Colorado Springs-based Interfaith Hospitality Network will get 25 percent. IHN provides transitional shelter and support services to families who are homeless or at immediate risk of losing their homes.

“Regardless of denomination, we are all part of the community, and there’s enough that we can all agree on that we can work on to improve our community,” said Amanda Harders, director of volunteers for IHN.

Pastor Dan Holt of Ascension Lutheran Church on North Circle Drive walked through the finish line after completing the 3.1-mile route with 20 members of his congregation.

“We tend to think we are so far removed from hunger and poverty, but there are plenty of people going without a meal in Colorado Springs today, and we are doing something to change that,” Holt said.

For more information or to donate, visit http://coloradospringscropwalk.com/donate/.

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Contact Andrea Sinclair: 636-0235

Twitter @GazetteAndrea

Walkers take to the streets for the 9th annual Crop Hunger Walk, which begins and ends at Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, on Sunday, October 5, 2014. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette

STACIE SCOTT