The 2012 Foothills CROP Walk Against Hunger honors Dolores Zeece of Holy Cross Episcopal Church and longtime volunteer for CROP Walk.
Zeece moved to the Thermal Belt in the early 1990s from Orange County, New York. Zeece had been a long time walker and supporter of CROP Walks in the Hudson Valley. With the support and encouragement of Bob Thompson of Orchard Inn, Zeece became the first CROP Walk Committee Chair and the Polk County CROP Walk was born.
The first CROP Walk, held at Stearns Park in the fall of 1994, drew a little less than 100 walkers and the support of many of the area churches. Zeece has been distinguished as the founder of Polk County’s annual community binding event.
“I could not have done it without the support of Bob Thompson” stated Zeece at the time. “He had just moved here from Charlotte and had tons of experience and energy. With his help and the help of many others we were able to help so many people.”
The Polk County CROP Walk expanded to draw from all our foothills communities in 2010 and also support food missions in Landrum as well as Polk County. The 2012 Chairman Lance Smith said, “This year we are celebrating the beginning of the end to the ravages of poverty both in the foothills and around the world, so it’s fitting that we also honor the person who helped our CROP Walk become the important event that it is today.”