Healthy Waltham Laces Up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger

WALTHAM, Mass. – On May 4, Healthy Waltham will step up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. For the first time, the Waltham-based nonprofit will raise money to support statewide food security through the Commonwealth Program. 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 Healthy Waltham 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.”
Healthy Waltham is a dedicated community organization committed to providing access to nutritious food and essential health education for individuals and families in need. Through the Healthy Waltham Food Pantry and multiple wellness initiatives, the organization serves all community members facing food insecurity, ensuring hundreds of individuals each month have access to fresh, culturally relevant, and healthy food options. This year, the Healthy Waltham team will walk it’s own three-mile loop around Waltham with the goal of raising $15,000. Funds raised will help scale up pantry operations and expand the variety of culturally relevant and nutritious foods distributed to those in need.
“Participating in the 2025 Walk for Hunger is important to us because we believe no one should have to struggle to put food on the table,” says Amy Esposito, Treasurer on Healthy Waltham's Board of Directors. “While we hope for a future where food insecurity no longer exists, we know there is still work to be done. Walking together allows us to raise awareness, rally our community, and take meaningful steps toward ending hunger.”
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 Healthy Waltham’s Commonwealth fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/team/645454. 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.

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