Rose’s Bounty Hits the Pavement for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger

WEST ROXBURY, Mass. – On May 1, Rose’s Bounty will be among thousands of virtual participants to lace up for Project Bread’s 54th annual Walk for Hunger. For the first time, the West Roxbury-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.

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 Rose’s Bounty, 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.

With open hearts and helping hands, Rose’s Bounty is growing a community of living kindness, for the benefit of those facing food insecurity and for those giving their time, talent, and treasure to neighbors in need. Established by the Stratford Street United Church, volunteers operate the food pantry independently, which is open to residents of West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan. Additional pre-packed bag delivery programs are offered for school children, disabled and homeless veterans, and elderly and home-bound neighbors to ensure less visible community members are not forgotten. In 2021 the nonprofit distributed over 600,000 pounds of food. Serving a week’s worth of food to families 9,856 times benefiting 4112 children, 533 seniors and 2108 adults. To keep the momentum going, volunteers, board members and church members will hit the pavement in West Roxbury for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger to raise $10,000. Funds will support Rose’s Bounty’s delivery transportation efforts as well as the addition of a new door into the pantry so that weekly deliveries of up 12,000 lbs. of food no longer need to be carried down an ominous flight of stairs.

“At Rose’s Bounty, we feel like you are only as strong as your weakest member in the community, and you simply cannot function if you don’t have enough to eat,” says Darra Slagle, Rose’s Bounty Executive Director. “We live in one of the richest states in the country and the fact that we have people struggling daily to put food on the table to me is unacceptable. That’s why I want to do the Walk around West Roxbury to generate awareness for the need in such a wealthy area. We have the resources; we just need the action to ensure no one goes hungry.”

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 Rose’s Bounty

Conceived in 2015, Rose’s Bounty has grown from a food pantry to a variety of programs geared to overcome barriers in accessing healthy food. Rose’s Bounty programs include delivery and pop-up food pantries for disabled veterans and those facing homelessness, elementary school children and their families, homebound neighbors, adult day care clients, seniors in public housing, and food pantries open to the public.

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