Participation Increases in Hunger Hike

About 175 people--more than twice last year’s number--showed up with sneakers and water bottles Saturday to participate in Food Share’s seventh annual Hike Against Hunger.

“It went great and is going great,” said Jim Mangis, executive director of Food Share, which serves 200 agencies in Ventura County.

Walkers this year had the choice of walking 30 miles from Ventura to Santa Barbara over two days or trekking in more bite-size chunks of one, four or six miles.

Each participant contributed at least $15, but one couple donated more than $2,000, according to a Food Share spokeswoman.

Food Share hoped to raise $50,000, nearly four times the amount raised last year.

Of that, $18,000 is slated to buy a refrigerated truck, $16,000 will buy hot meals for low-income children and another $16,000 will purchase groceries for about 3,000 needy senior citizens.

Officials had not tallied up the exact amount of funds raised Saturday, but they reported that $44,000 had come in before the hike.

Oscar and Laura Arnold of Ventura said they are veteran hikers for hunger.

“I like the challenge,” Laura said.

“We like to help out a lot,” Oscar added.