When 9-year-old Jamie Joseph saw that $500 would be enough for a woman to start her own business, she made it her goal to raise the money for this year’s Crop Walk.

“Since I could, I wanted to,” Jamie said.

Jamie, a 4th grader at Burton St. Elementary, went door to door in the village of Cazenovia with her mother, Renee, asking for donations. Her neighbors, friends and relatives were very generous, she said, helping her raise $450. Her father, James, added $100, following through on his promise to help her reach her goal.

Jamie encouraged others to raise money and walk for the hungry.

“It makes you feel so good to know you are making a difference,” she said.

Last year, Jamie heard about a project for the clean water campaign for Haiti. She saved her allowance money to help out, including her $5 in tooth fairy money.

Jamie swims, sails and plays basketball, tennis, soccer and baseball.

The World Church Service Annual Crop Walk for Hunger will begin at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18 leaving from Lakeland Park.

Participants may register at their church, at CazCares, Common Grounds or at 1 p.m. the day of the walk at Lakeland Park.

Walkers may choose to do a three-mile walk or a one-mile walk.

In 2008, the Cazenovia Crop Walk had 120 walkers and raised $5,233.20.

Donation envelopes for walkers can be obtained from the local churches or by calling Crop Walk coordinator Sister Milice Bohrer, CSJ at 655-3441.

Thanks to Janet Munro for her assistance gathering information for this article.