On a warm Sunday afternoon in downtown Fullerton, more than 60 residents gathered for the 2026 Annual CROP Hunger Walk. At first glance, it may have looked like a simple community event — neighbors walking together through the city plaza, smiling, talking, and raising money for charity. But the purpose behind those steps carried a much heavier meaning.

Hunger still exists in Fullerton.

That reality is easy to overlook in a city known for its restaurants, businesses, universities, and thriving downtown district. Yet behind apartment doors, inside cars parked overnight on city streets, and within struggling households trying to keep up with rising costs, many local families are quietly battling food insecurity every single day.

The CROP Hunger Walk matters because it forces the community to acknowledge that truth.

Among the walkers this year was 96-year-old Barbara Johnson, founder of what is now known as Pathways of Hope. Her presence alone represented decades of service to people facing homelessness, poverty, and hunger in North Orange County. Organizations like Pathways of Hope (click here) continue doing the difficult work many people never see — providing meals, groceries, shelter assistance, and hope to residents who have fallen on hard times.

The annual walk, organized through the CROP Hunger Walk program (click here), raises money not only for local hunger relief but also for programs around the world focused on long-term food security. But beyond fundraising, the event sends another message: hunger is not someone else’s problem.

It belongs to all of us.

In Orange County — one of the wealthiest regions in the nation — thousands of residents still rely on food pantries and community programs to get by. Inflation has pushed grocery prices higher. Housing costs continue climbing. Seniors on fixed incomes, working families, and even college students increasingly find themselves struggling to afford basic necessities.

That contradiction should concern everyone.

No community can truly call itself successful if people are forced to choose between paying rent and buying groceries.

Events like the Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk remind residents that solving hunger requires more than one afternoon of goodwill. It requires sustained support for local nonprofits, volunteerism, thoughtful public policy, and community awareness long after the signs are packed away and the walk ends.

Councilmember Shana Charles encouraged participants during the event, but the responsibility extends beyond elected officials. Churches, businesses, schools, civic organizations, and residents all play a role in addressing hunger locally.

The truth is simple: people should not go hungry in Fullerton.

The walkers who gathered downtown this year understood that. Their footsteps represented compassion, responsibility, and a belief that communities work best when people look out for one another.

Overall, it was a wonderful time to connect with people who care about the community and are taking action to make a difference in people’s lives.

The challenge now is to make sure the spirit continues after the walk is over.

Those interested in supporting the cause can still donate through the Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk page (click here) or learn more about local hunger relief efforts through Pathways of Hope.