The 35th annual Niles-Park Ridge CROP Hunger Walk returns Oct. 18, with a three-mile route through the neighborhood and all local proceeds going to the Maine Township Food Pantry.

Registration opens at 1:15 p.m. at Park Ridge Community Church, 100 Courtland Ave. Walkers step off at 2 p.m. and return by about 4 p.m. There is no cost to participate, and walk-up registration is available, according to First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge, one of the congregations organizing teams for the event.

Proceeds are split between Church World Service, the national organization behind the CROP Hunger Walk, and the Maine Township Emergency Food Pantry on Ballard Road in Park Ridge.

The pantry has seen rapid growth. Maine Township Supervisor Kim Jones said in March that the facility needs more room. "We've totally outgrown it," Jones told the Journal & Topics, describing the push to find a larger space for storage and client services.

The walk has donated to the pantry each year. In her October 2024 report to the Maine Township Board, Administrator Dayna Berman wrote that the walk "generously donate[s] every year to our food pantry from their proceeds."

First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge said its congregation raised $2,200 for the walk last year and hopes to match that total in 2026. St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Park Ridge is also fielding a team and has promoted the walk through local fundraisers, including a recent event at D'Agostino's in Niles.

The CROP Hunger Walk is a national effort now 57 years old, active in more than 500 communities across the country, according to Church World Service.

Residents who want to register a team or sponsor a walker before Oct. 18 can visit the CROP Hunger Walk registration page. Walk-up registration is also available at the church that afternoon.