AUBURN -- On a perfect day for a walk, more than 150 people did so to fight hunger.

At Cayuga Community College, area residents came together to participate in the 31st annual CROP Walk on a brisk, partly-cloudy afternoon, Sunday. The walking fundraiser, which will also take place in 25 other locations across Central New York during October, raised money for both local and worldwide food programs.

Participants brought money donations to the college Sunday before taking the three-mile walk along North Marvine Avenue, East Genesse Street and Franklin Street. Local coordinator Laurie Trojnor estimated that the Auburn walk collected about $5,000. A quarter of that money will be given directly to local food programs, while the rest will be given to worldwide charities.

The idea behind CROP Walk, which stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, is to help the public recognize the struggle of the millions of hungry people around the world, Trojnor said.

"This event gives us a chance to get an idea of what it is like for the people who have to walk for everything," Trojnor said. "And we're talking working people, people who have jobs. There is hunger in our own backyard."

For more, read Monday's Citizen