Back Bay to draw walk against hunger

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Against a scenic landscape such as the Back Bay, it

would be easy to forget the amount of hunger and suffering in the world.

But when about 10 clergy from diverse faiths step out on Sunday, people

as far away as Afghanistan and as nearby as Santa Ana will be in the

forefront of their minds.

“Hunger touches all of us,” said the Rev. Dennis Short, pastor of

Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach. “There are a lot of hungry

people right here in Orange County, and this walk will help benefit local

agencies that serve them.”

Sunday’s walk is one of many organized by Elkart, Ind.-based Church

World Service. Throughout the country all through the year, local

interfaith groups hold walks to raise money and awareness for hunger.

This year, Newport Beach’s walk is expected to draw about 250 walkers

to raise about $25,000. Local organizations such as Share Our Selves,

Shelter for the Homeless and Orange County Interfaith Shelter will get

25% of the proceeds. The rest will go to national and international

organizations that feed hungry people throughout the world.

“It’s a responsibility of those who have to help those who don’t,”

said Rabbi Marc Rubenstein of Temple Isaiah in Newport Beach.

Rubenstein will be one of the religious leaders starting off the walk,

which will begin at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church.

Participants in the walk, now in its 13th year in Newport Beach, will

wind around a two-mile circular course that will bring them back to St.

Mark.

Construction work on the bluffs changed this year’s course, sending

walkers along East Bluff to Jamboree Road and ultimately to the

Interpretive Center.

“I think especially with the world situation the way it is now, the

fact that we can show some sort of religious unity against the terrorists

in the world lets them know that we have a sense of unity,” Short said.

And it’s a nice day for the walkers too.

“The Back Bay is so beautiful you wonder why you don’t do this every

day,” said Msgr. Bill McLaughlin of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport

Beach, who has been a regular in the annual event since it began. “It

lifts our spirits in these days when we really need it.”

FYI

* WHAT: 13th annual United Interfaith CROP Hunger Walk

* WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Sunday * WHERE: Walk will begin at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar

Vista Drive.

* COST: Donation requested

* PHONE:(949) 644-4949