The Paulist Center Laces Up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger

BOSTON, Mass. – On May 4, The Paulist Center: Home of the Wednesday Night Supper Club will step up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. For the 57th consecutive year, the Boston-based nonprofit will raise money to support statewide food security. The Commonwealth gives organizations addressing food insecurity 60% of all funds they raise to support their own hunger relief programs, with the remaining 40% applied to Project Bread’s statewide food security efforts.

The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brings together a diverse community dedicated to ensuring food security across the state. The celebration is set for Sunday, May 4 at 9 a.m. and will feature family-friendly activities, food and entertainment. This year’s Walk will remain an accessible route on the fully paved sidewalks, allowing people with mobility devices, young children, and other needs to participate. ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present throughout the event.

“It is becoming more and more difficult for people to afford enough to eat,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “One in 5 families with kids are worried about where their next meal will come from. The Walk for Hunger is our opportunity to make an immediate difference in the lives of thousands of our neighbors. Organizations like The Paulist Center are what make The Walk for Hunger such a powerful event. Together, as a community, we’re making sure people can access food with dignity and choice each day.”

The Paulist Center is an inclusive Catholic community that welcomes all, fosters healing, and acts for justice. In the 1960’s, the group started a tradition of the “Wednesday Night Supper Club” to feed homeless and hungry people. Recognizing a need to fund this important new outreach ministry, the Paulist Center Community founded the nation’s first community pledge walk, now known as Project Bread’s annual Walk for Hunger. Today, the tradition continues as the Wednesday Night Supper Club at the Paulist Center serves 140-160 hot meals to guests in downtown Boston every Wednesday night. A proud founding team of The Walk for Hunger, The Paulist Center has supported Project Bread’s mission for nearly 60 years, helping to sustain operations and raise funds for vital resources like food and supplies. This year, the team aims to raise $50,000. Funds raised through the Commonwealth Program directly support these efforts, ensuring continued service to the community.
“Participating in the Walk for Hunger is a meaningful way for us to stay connected with our neighbors and support the larger movement for food equity,” says Mares Beauvais, Supper Club Team Leader at The Paulist Center. “It’s not only a chance to raise crucial funds but also to bring awareness to the ongoing challenges of food insecurity that so many in our city face. Through this event, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors, one step at a time.”
Beginning in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation, money raised from The Walk for Hunger is critical to fund systemic change for hunger relief. Project Bread launched the joint-fundraising Commonwealth Program in 2019. In 2024, 39 nonprofits raised more than $228,000 to support their own programs for statewide food security.

Donate directly to The Paulist Center’s Commonwealth fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/team/643790. To register as a participant for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, or to support a walker or team with a donation, visit give.projectbread.org/walk. All individual walkers are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $25 and teams $250. Participants who raise $500 or more are recognized as Heart & Sole walkers and receive access to personalized fundraising support, exclusive event gear, free breakfast on Walk Day, and invitations to exclusive events.

People experiencing food insecurity should call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333), which provides confidential, free assistance getting connected to a variety of food resources in 180 languages and for the hearing impaired. Counselors can pre-screen families and help them to apply for SNAP. Learn more at projectbread.org/get-help.

About Project Bread
Project Bread is the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts. Beginning in 1969 with the first Walk for Hunger, the nonprofit focuses on driving systemic change to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.

About The Paulist Center
An Inclusive Catholic Community that welcomes all, fosters healing, and acts for justice. The Paulist Center accepts and welcomes you wherever you are on your faith journey. Inclusive Catholic Church. For more information, visit: www.paulistcenter.org.

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