Dubuque CROP Walk Dedicated to BVM Anita Therese Hayes and Dorothy Krayer

Dubuque CROP Walk coordinator Sara McCaw (r.) shares how Anita Therese Hayes, BVM and Dorothy Krayer volunteered for the project for more than 30 years as she dedicated Saturday’s walk to them. 

On Saturday, 20 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary joined a Dubuque, Iowa, walk to end poverty that was dedicated to a long-time BVM volunteer.

The 2021 Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk was dedicated to BVM Anita Therese Hayes and Dorothy Krayer to honor their more than 30-year volunteer commitment to planning, organizing, and publicizing the walk. Anita died in 2019 and Dorothy in 2020.

In her tribute, Dubuque CROP Walk Coordinator Sara McCaw noted Anita’s generosity, care for the poor, thoughtfulness, and organizing ability.

As a BVM representative to Dubuque Area Congregations United, which sponsors the walk, Anita found volunteers including people to monitor crosswalks and donate refreshments.

“She was a terrific spokesperson for the CROP Walk and put her actions into her words year after year after year,” says Sara (Philip Mary) McAlpin, BVM.

Individual BVMs contributed to the CROP Walk, as did the congregation.

Twenty-five percent of all local donations will go to the Dubuque Food Pantry, Rescue Mission, and People in Need.

CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk events held in cities and towns across the United States, raising funds to support the global mission of Church World Service.

The project was organized in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia.

Its motto is “ending hunger one step at a time.”