05/11/2023

The 55th Walk for Hunger: A Community Takes Strides to End Hunger

Project Bread

The Walk For Hunger

Project Bread hosted the 55th annual Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 7 to raise funds to help kids, families, and seniors in Massachusetts access and afford food with dignity. After hosting the event virtually for three years, Project Bread and over 2,700 people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds could not have been more excited to join together on Boston Common to make some noise, and to ensure their neighbors have enough to eat.

The Walk for Hunger took on a new format – a 3 mile walk around the Boston Common, live entertainment, good food, and amazing company.

For the first time ever, we gathered all the energy and entertainment of The Walk for Hunger into the Boston Common, rather than our historic 20-mile route. After three years of hosting The Walk virtually, every last person on the Common made sure to make the most of the day together.

With a shorter route, this year’s Walk was more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The Common was full of smiling faces, young and old, enjoying the sunshine and the bright atmosphere of the event. There were balloon animals and face painting for kids, Iawn games in the sunshine, and ways for the crowd to take action to support our Feed Kids Campaign - 98 people acted on the spot, urging the Senate to join the House in including permanent funding for School Meals for All in the budget!

We even got to see a few local celebrities among the crowd, like Jeremy Reiner broadcasting live from our partners at Channel 7 News, Ramiro & Melissa from our partners at HOT 96.9 The Get Up Crew, and even Representative Livingstone from the 8th Suffolk District! Thanks to Spike Events for their amazing digital photobooth to help capture so many magical moments and make our first in-person walk since 2020 such a wonderful celebration!

Whether you were a first time participant joining us on the Common or a life-long supporter tuning in from across the world, you all went the extra mile for our neighbors this year. "I can't say enough good things about Project Bread. The type of work they do to help prevent food insecurity in this state, the work that we're doing to make school meals for all — for everyone — in this state a reality, I couldn't be more honored to help them out," said long-time Walk for Hunger participant, Steven Leibowitz.

Recognizing the advocacy of Addario Miranda

Addario Miranda was awarded Project Bread's 2023 Patrick Hughes Award for his compassionate social justice advocacy. Inspired by his own experience with food insecurity as a first-grader, 16 year old Addario has been leading his community as an ambassador for Project 351 since he began high school. Since connecting with Project Bread’s campaign for universal free school meals, Addario has helped run annual food drives, and has even shared his lived experience in a testimony before state legislators to express the importance of free school meals. We at Project Bread are amazed by Addario’s energetic presence, empathetic work, and his dedication to ending the cycle of hunger in Massachusetts.

You might recognize Addario from his participation in the Cooking Demo on the main stage, where he excitedly joined our Chef Education Team in preparing one of the school meal recipes that we share with school nutrition staff. Over at the Chef’s Table, we shared fresh fruit and opportunities to learn more about how we’re partnering with schools to improve student nutrition, one creative recipe at a time.

Community partners all across The Commonwealth

34 of Project Bread's community partners created teams for The Walk, and joined The Commonwealth - the fundraising share program for The Walk for Hunger.

So far this year, The Commonwealth teams have raised $116,000 toward ending hunger in Massachusetts! 60% of the funds these teams raise will be granted to their organizations to support their local work.

Did you spot this map along The Walk? Each label represents a team’s organization participating in The Commonwealth, showing the communities they support across Massachusetts, and how far they traveled to join us on Boston Common.

beyond the finish line

To continue your support for anti-hunger solutions in Massachusetts, participants can continue to fundraise through summer. New supporters are encouraged to make a donation, and anyone can still register to Walk Your Own Way and create their own fundraiser to help The Walk reach its $1 million goal. The more donations made to The Walk for Hunger, the more kids, families, and seniors in our community can access the food resources they need with dignity.

Visit The Walk for Hunger 2023 Event Page

The 55th Walk for Hunger: A Community Takes Strides to End Hunger

Thank you for making The 55th Walk for Hunger one of the best yet!

The Walk for Hunger took on a new format – a 3 mile walk around the Boston Common, live entertainment, good food, and amazing company.

More than 4,000 people participated in The 55th Walk for Hunger from all over the state - country - even as far as Australia - and together have raised $915,000 toward our $1 million goal!

Recognizing the advocacy of Addario Miranda

Community partners all across The Commonwealth

beyond the finish line

Newsworthy moments