On the weekend of March 20-21 when Durham holds its 36th annual CROP Hunger Walk, the N.C. School of Science and Math will launch a food drive that organizers hope will set a world record for the most food collected in a single day at a single location by a non-charitable organization.

Guinness Book of World Records will rule on the outcome of the food drive that will take place on Saturday, March 20, at the NCSSM campus.

Students, faculty, alumni and friends of the school are hoping their effort will catapult them ahead of the current record-setting food drive that last year collected 509,000 pounds of food in a single day in Calgary, Canada.

The food collected will be donated to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, a recipient of funds from area CROP Hunger Walks as well.

"Planning for the food drive has allowed all of us at NCSSM to realize the great need across our state," said coordinator Sue Anne Lewis, "especially among children."

"Although beating the Guinness World Record would certainly be exciting, the record merely set the goal for us in our attempt to help the nearly 500,000 people at risk of hunger in central and eastern North Carolina," Lewis said.

Durham's Walk, set for Sunday, March 21, is the third largest such walk in the United States out of some 1,900 across the country, said Jenny Shafer, the walk's executive coordinator, and it is also the oldest walk-a-thon in North Carolina.

In its 35-year history, Durham walkers have raised more than $3 million for the hungry here and around the world. In January, Durham Congregations in Action distributed $40,000 to 10 local relief agencies, the city's share of funds raised in the 2009 Walk.

For information on how to contribute to NCSSM's food drive, or to sign up a team for the Walk, contact Sue Anne Lewis at NCSSMFoodDrive@gmail.com; or Jenny Shafer at www.durhamcropwalk.org.

Women's group luncheon

Durham's Christian Women's Connection will hold its monthly luncheon and program on Saturday, March 20, at 9:45 a.m. in the dining room at Croasdaile Village Commons, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Pkwy. The cost is $10.

The inspirational speaker will be Karin Williams, a world traveler, actress and former radio and TV talk show host. Her topic is "Learning to say goodbye to painful losses and hello to a bright tomorrow."

The featured speaker will be Shannon Vickery, executive producer-content at UNC-TV, who will give an overview of the uniqueness of public television.

Reservations are essential by Wednesday, March 17, by calling 489-6924 or e-mailing dwconnection@ymail.com.

Kay Warren visits

ZOE Ministry will host a fundraising event featuring author Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren, on Friday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Duke Chapel.

Proceeds from the event will benefit ZOE's orphan empowerment work in Africa. Tickets are $25.

ZOE is an organization empowering children who have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. Through grants and training, child-led households in the Giving Hope program become self-sustaining and reintegrated into their communities.

During the event, women will speak about the ministry of Kay Warren, who with her husband Rick Warren, is widely known for starting Saddleback Church. Kay Warren wrote her latest book "Dangerous Surrender" about her ministry on behalf of people suffering because of HIV/AIDS.

Also offered during the event is a free Mission Symposium led by the Rev. Shane Stanford at 3:30 p.m. in Goodson Chapel at Duke Divinity School. More details available by visiting www.zoeministry.org.

Habitat and Haiti

During the month of March, the Habitat ReStore serving Durham and Orange counties will donate all sales profits to Habitat for Humanity's work in Haiti.

The store is in need of donated items such as used furniture, appliances, home goods and building supplies. These items will be sold at discounted prices with 100 percent of the sale profits going to the Haiti project. The store's goal is to send $50,000 to Habitat's work in Haiti.

"This is the perfect opportunity to respond to the disaster in Haiti using resources found in our homes," said Duff Penny, ReStore director.

"Given our goal, we need everyone's help," Penny said. "I encourage all to simplify or de-clutter their life and home by donating gently used items to the ReStore."

Habitat is addressing long-term shelter solutions for low-income families in Haiti and expects to help 50,000 families who were affected by the earthquake through a multi-year effort that includes relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Habitat ReStore is an outlet that accepts donated goods for resale. It is located at 5501 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. and is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CWS meeting opens

The national board of Church World Service is meeting this week at Duke Divinity School. This is the first time the board has met in North Carolina, according to the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, pastor of Durham's Covenant Presbyterian Church. Hawkins, a three-year member of the board, has served as board treasurer for the past two years.

Charles Nelms, chancellor of N.C. Central University, will speak tonight at 7:30 p.m. during a worship service that is open to the public on his commitment to end world hunger. The service will be held at Covenant Presbyterian, 2620 E. Weaver St.

Other participants in the three-day CWS meeting are

the Rev. George Reed of the N.C. Council of Churches;

the Rev. Byron Wade, the vice moderator of the 218^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA;

the Rev. Spencer Bradford, executive director of Durham Congregations in Action;

Durham Mayor William Bell, who will deliver a proclamation from the City of Durham;

Joe Moran, regional director for the Southeast for CWS; and

Mary St. John, director of CWS's Immigrant and Refugee Resettlement program.

The final Empowerment Lunch for this year, October through March, will be held on Thursday, March 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown.

The speaker will be Don Legun, the author of a book, "My Side of Depression," about one man's triumph over debilitating depression and how one can recognize the symptoms and help oneself or a loved one become whole again. With simple language and straight talk, Legun and his book have been helping others understand what clinical depression is all about. His presentation will give guidance and hope for anyone who suffers from depression.

Lunch is provided free of charge, but registration is required for planning purposes by calling 683-1386. All are welcome.