To the editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap communities for their support of the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk. The 2016 walk was held under beautiful skies the last weekend of September. Despite sharing the “sunny Sunday” stage with the ever-popular Harvest Festival, the annual walk again proudly represented its distinction of one of the top CROP Hunger Walks in the nation.

The local event raises funds for Church World Service, with 20 percent of the monies raised going to Helpline House of Bainbridge Island, and 5 percent going to Fishline of North Kitsap.

Up to the time of putting together this letter, we’ve collected more than $21,500 in pledges. With the wonderful matching pledge we have and more pledges still due to come in, we will be well over $43,000 total!

The BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk organizing committee would like to thank all the walkers, pledgers and supporters. Also, we would like to thank Dan Lavry for entertaining the returning walkers with his musical talents with his accordion and sound machine. He’s been a part of the celebration ceremony for many years.

Again this year, we had a number of local restaurants donating a portion of one-day’s earnings to the Walk or gift cards for the silent auction. Helping us out this year were: Spice Route, SuBi, Commuter Comforts and Doc’s.

Once again – thank you so much for your support. Our community is why the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk is on the list of the top CROP Walks in the United States.

DAVID BEEMER

For the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk committee