READY FOR A WALK- - Sherrill Hyink, a longtime teacher at Los Cerritos Middle School, is helping organize and administer this year's CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk. This year's event will be Sun., March 8 and begins at California Lutheran University. The walk supports a variety of causes. The 31st annual Conejo Valley CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk will take place on Sun., March 8, beginning at the California Lutheran University Sports Complex.

It's a fundraising walk of 6.2 or 4.5 miles throughout the community, ending back at CLU. Registration begins at noon, and the walk begins at 1 p.m.

Groups and individuals who wish to make a difference in the lives of impoverished people locally and worldwide are encouraged to participate.

Of the proceeds, 75 percent will support Church World Service/ CROP, the interfaith relief development and refugee assistance arm of the National Council of Churches.

These funds assist in the aftermath of floods, earthquakes, famine and war. CROP funds are also used to provide tools, education and a new start for struggling communities.

The other 25 percent supports causes in the community where the walk occurs.

In Conejo Valley, five charities receive benefits: Manna, the Conejo Valley food bank; Westlake Meals on Wheels; Conejo Valley Meals on Wheels; Lutheran Social Services; and Catholic Charities.

Last year, the local CROP Walk raised more than $53,000, and more than 700 people participated in the endeavor.

This year's walk will be dedicated to Rose Balding, who passed away recently at the age of 95.

She began participating in the walk locally in 1985 when she moved to Conejo Valley, and she continued her participation yearly until age 93.

Balding raised thousands of dollars over the years with pledges from her family, friends and Emmanuel Presbyterian Church members.

For more information or donor envelopes, call Sherrill Hyink at (805) 492-3647.