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Hagerstown Area Religious Council

The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) is a coalition of churches and houses of faith in the Hagerstown area of Washington County.

Ed Poling Memorial HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope

14th year!

Challenge Hike:  Saturday, May 16, 2026
20-miles or 10-miles on the Appalachian Trail

5K and 10K Canal Hikes:  Saturday, May 30, 2026
NEW LOCATION! C&O Canal Towpath in Williamsport & Zion Lutheran Church

     

ALL individual fundraising will be match 2-1
by the God’s Grace Fund! 

 

Materials for your use:

5K and 10K Canal Hikes – May 30

    • Choose from 5K and 10K distances
    • Snacks & Drink stops along the way
    • All hikes conclude at Zion Lutheran Church in Williamsport
    • Post-hike lunch and celebration
    • Nature scavenger hunt
    • Prizes for top individual fundraiser and top fundraising team
    • Prize drawing for ANYONE who does fundraising

5K (3 miles) – 9:00 and 9:30 am check-in options.  Individuals $45; Families $75
(Prices include online registration fees.)
10K (6.5 miles) – 8:00 am check-in time.  Individuals $55; Families $95

$10 Early-bird discount and guaranteed t-shirt if you register by May 10!

Check-in location for all hikers:  Zion Lutheran Church, 35 W Potomac St, Williamsport, MD 21795

Start points on the C&O Canal towpath at Williamsport Visitor’s Center/Zion Lutheran (5 K out and back) and Dam Number 5 (10K participants will be shuttled to your start point).

Please note that registrations are welcome up through Hike day, but t-shirts in your size are not guaranteed after May 10. 

HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope is a non-competitive fundraising event open to all ages. This fully supported hike on the beautiful C&O Canal towpath includes everyone from casual to serious hikers and runners. Participants can look forward to scenic water views,  water & Gatorade refills and snacks along the way. All hikes will be along the C&O Canal in Maryland and will end at Zion Lutheran Church and our “Celebration” lunch, where participants can relax and enjoy a delicious meal and fellowship.

Virtual Event

Can’t make the date?  Not comfortable gathering with other people outdoors?  You can still help by joining us — virtually!  Participants can hike any date of their choice leading up to the event, any time of day that’s convenient.

Ed Poling Memorial PA Challenge Hike – May 16
Now with 20-mile and 10-mile options!

Are you a serious hiker or want a serious challenge?  Join us for the annual HARC Challenge Hike on Saturday, May 16, 2025.  A small group of hardy souls will be hiking approximately 20 mountainous miles of the Appalachian Trail starting at Boonsboro Mountain Road and ending at Pen Mar Park in Maryland. This year we’ve also added a 10-mile hike for those who want a serious hike, but aren’t up for the full 20 miles.

This is a one-way hike. We will meet at Pen Mar Park and participants will be shuttle to the start point. 20-mile hikers will hike back to their cars at Pen Mar, and 10-mile hikers will finish at our half-way lunch stop with transportation back to their cars.  We’ll have support along the way with a light breakfast, hearty lunch, and water & Gatorade refills and snacks along the way.  Enjoy camaraderie and encouragement on the trail.

Registration for the 20-mile challenge is only $55 if you raise $200 in donations OR bypass fundraising and donate $255 at time of registration. (Prices include online registration fees.)

Registration for the 10-mile challenge is only $55 if you raise $100 in donations OR bypass fundraising and donate $155 at time of registration. (Prices include online registration fees.)

Check-in Location— Pen Mark Park

Registration deadline is May 8 extended to May 10, and includes a special Challenge Hike t-shirt.  Register by April 26 for a $10 discount. 

  • Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion with Group photo following the hike.
  • Anyone who finishes the full 20-mile Challenge Hike will be listed on our Wall of Fame.

Visit the HARC Challenge Hike “Wall of Fame” – Pictures and trails from past hikes

The Cause

Proceeds from the Hike for Hunger & Hope will benefit all HARC programs with a significant portion going directly to Micah’s Backpack and a portion to the Refugee Welcome Network.  Micah’s Backpack is a collaborative effort between 50 churches and organizations in Washington County, serving more than 1,200 children with weekend meals. The Refugee Welcome Network supports refugees new to the U.S. as they work toward independence and becoming part of our community.

Let’s raise some funds for the cause!  The fundraising match from God’s Grace Fund is back!  More details coming soon. We encourage, but do not require, individual and team fundraising.  You can use our Individual Fundraising Collection Sheet (above) or use the handy online donation page that can be automatically set up when you register.  We will also once again have prizes for the top individual fundraiser and the top fundraising team.  Also, ANYONE who does fundraising will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.

I want to help, but don’t want to hike

If you don’t want to hike, but want to support the cause, we welcome your donation.  Use one of the donation links below or you can mail your check to: HARC, P.O. Box 1158, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-1158.  Please write “HARC Hike” in the note section and indicate if you are pledging to support a specific hiker.  Any amount will help. Thank you!  (Links will become active in late January, 2026)

 

Contact us!

If you have any questions, please contact the HARC office at 301-842-4272 or director@harc.datachievereview.xyz.

Visiting Washington County for the day or weekend? 

Check out things to do and places to stay on the Visit Hagerstown website:

 

 

 

Save the Date!

November 22 at 4:00 pm. Join us for this uplifting service featuring Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, and Buddhist traditions.

Details