MEND Hosts Tenth Annual Walk to End Hunger

Meeting Emergency Needs With Dignity (MEND), a coalition of 18 faith-based food pantries in Essex County, including the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, plans the tenth annual Essex County Walk To End Hunger for Friday, May 3, 2013 at noon in Newark. All are invited to participate.

Some 24 food pantries, schools and community organizations are expected to walk.  Sponsored by the Emergency Food and Nutrition Network (EFNN) of Catholic Charities and Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity (MEND), the walk will begin at 12 noon (rain or shine) in Washington Park, Newark. 

The 24 Essex County Food Pantries provided food to over 90,000 people last year.  This increase also included a record number of new applicants after the devastation brought by Hurricane Sandy. The walk seeks to raise awareness of hunger in Essex County, recognize the organizations that are assisting Essex County residents with needed food, and raise money to purchase food supplies for the participating food pantries.

Registration will begin at 11:30 am in Washington Park, including a Health Fair. The Kick-Off Rally begins promptly at noon, and the Walk itself begins at 12:20 pm. Walkers proceed south on Broad Street to the Federal Building at 50 Walnut Street, and then return to Washington Park.  The walk concludes by 1:15 pm. 

Essex County residents are encouraged to participate in the walk.  To register as well as donate, go to the MEND website at www.mendnj.org.