Danvers Family Raises Money for Statewide Hunger Relief

DANVERS, Mass. – On Sunday May 4, Danielle Wegrzyn and her family, of Danvers, joined thousands of walkers for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. This year, more than 4,500 participants, both in-person and virtual walkers across 20 states and 3 countries, united to raise over $1 million (and counting) to ensure everyone in Massachusetts can put food on the table.

The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brought together a diverse community dedicated to ensuring food security across the state. The event took place on Sunday, May 4 beginning at 9 a.m. and featured family-friendly activities, food and entertainment. This year’s Walk continued its commitment to accessibility with a fully paved route, accommodations for mobility devices, and the presence of ASL interpreters and multilingual staff.

“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. The people – our walkers, volunteers, and donors – 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.”

Wegrzyn participated in her first Walk for Hunger in 2003 as a sophomore in college. On May 4, she was back on the Boston Common, now with her team of six family members, for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. She and her family wore puffy paint shirts that had their names on the back and raised $750 and counting for food security in Massachusetts. Wegrzyn is close to her individual fundraising goal of $250. As a social worker, foster mother, and woman of faith, she sees firsthand the need to ensure nutrition and food access for everyone.

“It breaks my heart to think of the kids who won't have breakfast if there is no food provided at school or the single adult who just can't make ends meet to have proper nutrition,” says Wegrzyn. “The children we foster are often struggling with food insecurity and need constant reassurance that they will have enough to eat. Hunger for our neighbors isn't justice and everyone deserves mercy. Sometimes that looks like a pantry with enough food to feel safe.”

Fundraising through the Walk for Hunger will continue through the summer. Donate directly to Wegrzyn’s fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/fundraiser/6273685 or to the family’s fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/team/653793.

People experiencing food insecurity should call into Project Bread’s toll-free 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. For more information, visit: www.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.