Quincy Community Action Programs Walks in 54th Annual Walk for Hunger

QUINCY, Mass. – On May 1, Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP) will be among thousands of virtual participants to lace up for Project Bread’s 54th annual Walk for Hunger. For the third year, the Quincy-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, QCAP has raised more than $2,400 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 Quincy Community Action Programs, 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.

For 57 years, QCAP has been the leading private nonprofit organization in the Greater Quincy area dedicated to reducing poverty and helping low-income families achieve economic stability. Through partnerships, community engagement, and advocacy for racial, social, and economic justice, the nonprofit provides pathways to assist families and individuals from diverse backgrounds in their efforts to realize economic opportunity and create meaningful connections to improve the quality of their lives. Fighting food insecurity is a primary area of focus for QCAP through its Southwest Community Food Center, Food Delivery Program and a Mobile Pantry Program, and wraparound services for youth and families. Over the past year, Project Bread has granted more than $50,000 to QCAP as one of the nonprofit’s Community Partnerships Program Agencies, helping the nonprofit to hire a full-time bilingual Food Center Worker and an Inventory Specialist to help launch its Mobile Pantries in order to meet the increased need in the community during the pandemic.

On Walk Day, a team of 10 participants will hit the pavement in Quincy starting at 18 Copeland Street to Quincy Center under the umbrella “QCAP Team.” Their goal is to raise $1,500 to purchase new equipment and furnishings needed to complete the organization’s Client Welcome Area in its new Food Center building at 18 Copeland Street. In this area, clients will have daily access to rescued food, library books from the Little Free Library, supplies, resources, and more. A celebratory treat in Quincy Center will follow.

“We are thrilled to continue our long partnership with Project Bread through the Community Partnerships Program and the Walk for Hunger,” says Kristen Schlapp, QCAP’s Chief Operating Officer. “Together, QCAP and Project are able to leverage our strengths and networks to find creative solutions to food security issues in our community. There is a need for food security in Quincy and the Greater South Shore region, an issue that QCAP has been addressing since 1965. Our continued collaboration with Project Bread will ensure that low-income residents of Quincy and the surrounding towns facing food insecurity are not lost in the crowd. QCAP works collaboratively with Project Bread to create innovative solutions to address food insecurity on a local level and on a state level as we continue to advocate for more support.”

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 Quincy Community Action Programs

Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. is an IRS certified 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to reducing poverty and helping low-income residents achieve financial stability and security. To learn more, please visit www.qcap.org.

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