MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County Commissioners issued two proclamations during Tuesday’s weekly meeting.

The board proclaimed that Oct. 5-12 would be Hunger Action Week. Pastor Graham Fowler of the Lost Creek Presbyterian Church was in attendance to shed some light on the hunger dilemma in the region, as well as announce this year’s date for their annual CROP Hunger Walk.

CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk fundraising events held in cities and towns across the United States, created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster.

After a CROP Hunger Walk ends, 25% of the funds raised are returned to the host community to support local hunger-fighting efforts.

“At the end of World War II many people wanted to share our country’s abundance with European war victims so Church World Service and CROP’s first purpose was to gather wheat and other crops from U.S. farms for shipment to Europe,” said Fowler.

Wars along with droughts, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters are causing a global food crisis, millions are experiencing or are on the brink of famine, and the CROP Hunger Walk and the funds we raise will feed the hungry through Christian World Service by providing life-saving support like emergency food along with the seeds, tools and programs that will help families feed themselves in the future.

“The Juniata County CROP Hunger Walk has become an important part of community life, bringing together people of different faiths, socioeconomic levels, cultures, and ages to provide local and international hunger aid,” adds Fowler.

In the last 52 years, the Juniata County CROP Hunger Walks have raised nearly $630,000 that helped and brought hope to people in need here in Juniata County and around the world.

The Juniata County CROP Hunger Walk has awarded more than $85,500 to local hunger-fighting agencies that include the 2025 recipient agencies including Juniata Meals on Wheels and Juniata County Food Pantry.

“At least 10% of Juniata County residents are food insecure, meaning they are not sure how they’re going to feed their family from one day to the next. This number is likely to increase because of rising costs of food, decreasing food package sizes, rises in utility expenses, and increasing unemployment,” said Fowler.

The Juniata County CROP Hunger Walk will hold its 53rd walk on Oct.12, to raise awareness of and about hunger and its causes.

The second proclamation issued stated that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is acknowledged every October to celebrate the valuable contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive workplaces and supportive employment policies.

In other news, Commissioners:

-Approved an agreement between Juniata County Children and Youth and Martha Bowersox, translator, at a rate of $65 an hour for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026;

-Approved the use of the County Records Improvement Fund to cover the cost of one FireKing Fireproof chest at a cost of $133.19 and one Deteck money counter at a cost of $519 for the tax claim office;

-Approved the change of employment status from casual to part-time for Adam Eubanks in the security department.