Food For Free Laces Up for Project Bread’s 54th Walk for Hunger

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – On May 1, Food For Free will be among thousands of virtual participants to lace up for Project Bread’s 54th annual Walk for Hunger. For the fourth consecutive year, the Cambridge-based nonprofit will participate in the event through The Commonwealth Program which gives 60 percent of all funds raised by teams from likeminded organizations and agencies back to support their own hunger relief programs, with the remaining 40 percent applied to the statewide anti-hunger effort. To date, Project Bread awarded more than $39,000 in grants to Food for Free through the Commonwealth Program.

Historically, the Walk for Hunger, the nation’s oldest continual pledge walk, takes place the first Sunday of May on the Boston Common. The 2022 fundraiser will be the third event to be done virtually and is expected to raise more than $1 million to support Project Bread’s work to increase food access for people of all ages in Massachusetts.

“Currently, 1 in 5 Massachusetts households with children is struggling without enough to eat and that number jumps dramatically for Black, brown, and immigrant households,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. “Participating in the Walk for Hunger is one way in which residents can take action to fund school and community meal sites and Massachusetts’ only statewide hotline that connects residents with a range of food resources, including SNAP assistance. We can drive community change together.”

Money raised through the Walk is funding Project Bread’s work to ensure kids have reliable access to food, directly helping individuals and families, and advocating at the state and federal levels for expedited and efficient relief for those in need. Walk funds are also supporting community organizations, like Food for Free, that are helping residents to access food now and grants to ensure communities have the resources necessary to sustain and grow local anti-hunger programs. In 2021, 28 nonprofits participated in The Commonwealth Program and raised more than $165,000 to support their own work.

Since 1981, Food For Free, has responded to local hunger by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste, and distributing it to local emergency food programs including food pantries, youth programs, shelters, and more. Pre-pandemic, the nonprofit distributed just over 2 million pounds of fresh, healthy food delivered to Greater Boston residents of all ages annually. Today, the organization distributes well over 7 million pounds per year, a 300 percent increase and a direct result of the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Through a combination of food rescue, farming, and school and transportation programs, Food For Free’s year-round services give people access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which are often lacking from the diets of low-income individuals and families. The organization is simultaneously providing nutrition to those experiencing food insecurity and helping the environment by reducing the emission of methane gas.

“During the pandemic, we increased staff, opened a new facility in Somerville and formed additional partnerships to rescue, purchase, pack and provide food for the influx of residents in need,” says Eliza McDonough, Food For Free Events and Communications Coordinator. “We recognize we cannot solve hunger alone and we really rely on partners, like Project Bread, to advocate for food justice policies and assist our clients with additional nutrition resources through the nonprofit’s FoodSource Hotline. Funds raised through our participation in the Walk for Hunger will help us to continue operating at this higher capacity and offset increased food and fuel prices so that we can ensure everyone has enough fresh, healthy food to eat.”

This year’s event will include virtual programming with McAleer, elected officials, as well as walkers and volunteers posting and sharing their experiences along their neighborhood routes and why they are walking to help end hunger. Families with kids, individuals and teams of corporate employees are encouraged to find creative ways to connect virtually and fundraise together.

To register for the event and create a personal or team fundraising page for The Walk for Hunger or to make a donation, visit projectbread.org/walk or call (617) 723-5000.There is no registration fee or fundraising minimum to participate. Participants who raise $500 or more are recognized as Heart & Sole walkers, and receive access to personalized fundraising support, exclusive event gear, and invitations to events.

People experiencing food insecurity should call into Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333), which provides confidential assistance to connect with food resources, including SNAP benefits, in 180 languages and for the hearing impaired. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org/get-help.

About Project Bread

Project Bread is the leading statewide anti-hunger 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 Food For Free

Food For Free is a Cambridge and Somerville-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing the Greater Boston community with reliable access to fresh and nutritious food. Food For Free accomplishes its mission through food rescue, partnerships with schools, colleges, and community food programs, and our own direct service programs. In the last year, Food For Free distributed 6 million pounds of nutritious food to roughly 40,000 people throughout Greater Boston and was named 2020.Org Impact Award winner in the Fighting Hunger and Poverty category for its work improving access to healthy food within the Boston community. To learn more, please visit us at http://www.foodforfree.org/, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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