How a School Stepped Up Against Hunger in East Boston

Every year since 1969, thousands of people across Massachusetts lace up their shoes for The Walk for Hunger. Aside from being the oldest pledge walk in America, The Walk is a powerful day of community action, where people from every corner of Massachusetts team up to raise awareness and funds to end hunger. 

In 2025, the Samuel Adams Elementary School community stepped up in a big way, proving that even the smallest feet can make a giant impact.

At Samuel Adams Elementary in East Boston, compassion and community are more than values, they are part of everyday life. For years, Mike Tate, the school’s beloved cafeteria manager affectionately known as Mr. Mike, has greeted students each morning with music, high fives, and a warm breakfast. But he also noticed something that stayed with him: some students were still hungry, even after free breakfast and lunch.

Wanting to do more, Mr. Mike went to Principal Joanna McKeigue Cruz with an idea. He offered up a supply closet in the kitchen to become a food pantry for students and families in need.

The heart was there, but the resources weren’t. That changed when a parent told Principal Cruz about The Walk for Hunger’s co-fundraising program, The Commonwealth. Understanding the real challenges many families were facing, the school community was quick to take action.

Their goal felt ambitious, but possible: raise enough money through The Walk for Hunger to open their very own food pantry.

The entire school rallied behind the cause. Students and parents organized fundraisers, teachers spread the word, and the greater East Boston community showed up with support. The Samuel Adams Sea Dragons, the school-led team for The 2025 Walk for Hunger, joined The Commonwealth and rallied around a shared mission.

The Walk for Hunger became more than an event. It became a symbol of what was possible when a community comes together.

“When we did The Walk for Hunger, we didn’t know it would come out to [the establishment of] a pantry. But this is one small thing that we can do to be able to ensure that the students eat and feel good, and to be able to actually learn and enjoy learning.”

- Madeleine Pizarro, Family Liaison at Samuel Adams Elementary School

Thanks to those collective efforts, The Sea Dragons raised over $1,500 to help launch the pantry through The Commonwealth co-fundraising program. Through The Commonwealth co-fundraising model, 60% of funds raised stay in local communities to support programs just like this one. The Sea Dragons, along with 52 other Commonwealth teams at The 2025 Walk for Hunger, raised more than $310,000 to confront hunger in communities across the state. 

The school community came together to celebrate the food pantry’s grand opening in November, and Project Bread was lucky enough to get an invite. Together we enjoyed a delicious meal and heard from Principle Cruz, Mr. Mike, parent Hannah Koehn, and East Boston District 1 Super Intendent, Tommy Welch.

Today, the pantry provides nutritious food and essential supplies to students and families, ensuring no one has to face the school day hungry. It’s not just about food. It’s about dignity, care, and belonging.

The impact is already being felt across the school community. Teachers, staff, and parents volunteer to help maintain the pantry and pack bags for families who can’t attend during open hours. Before the two-week December school break, staff connected directly with families so they could stock up ahead of time.

The school also created an Amazon wish list, making it easy for supporters to keep the pantry stocked. The result is a resource that’s being used, appreciated, and invested in to ensure it remains built to last.

Mr. Mike’s Food Pantry is creating a healthier, more supportive environment for students and families at Samuel Adams Elementary, especially at a time when access to food matters more than ever. Students are better able to focus, and families feel seen, supported, and connected.

This is what it looks like to turn compassion into action, and small steps can lead to lasting change.