The Walk for Hunger 2024

Join the community fun as we take strides toward ending hunger in Massachusetts! See you Sunday, May 5th on the Boston Common!

2024 Event Site
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The 2024 in-person event has taken place.

But, new participants can still register to "Walk Your Own Way" & fundraise through the summer!

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The Oldest Pledge Walk in America

Sunday, May 5, 2024

The Walk for Hunger is a community movement to change the face of food insecurity in Massachusetts. Since 1969, on the first Sunday in May, we walk together towards a permanent solution.

The 56th Walk for Hunger is a fun-filled 3-mile walk around Boston Common to raise money for critically needed hunger relief in Massachusetts. 

Register now - it's free - and all participants receive a free t-shirt. There are two ways to participate: register to join us on the Common, or join us virtually from wherever you are when you register to "Walk Your Own Way". There is no fundraising minimum, but all participants are encouraged to fundraise to help The Walk achieve its $1.3 million goal to fund solutions to hunger across The Commonwealth.

Are you ready to channel your inner superhero and start your own fundraiser to power-up hunger relief in Massachusetts? Whether you're a seasoned walker or a first-timer, this is your chance to make a difference for our community and have a blast while doing it!

Sunday, May 5 | 9 am - 12 pm | Boston Common | (Day-of Registration & Check-in opens at 7:30am)

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What's in Store

2024 Event Details

  • Opportunities to learn more about our mission & how to get involved.
  • Entertainment on the main stage and along the route.
  • Photo booths capturing your heroic moments.
  • Lawn games for playful camaraderie.
  • Face painting and balloon animals for our little walkers.
  • Giveaways to keep the excitement alive.
  • Fresh fruit and food trucks to refuel your energy.

Raise Money. Fight Hunger.

How Your Fundraising Fuels Food Relief

Welcome to the beating heart of The Walk for Hunger’s impact. Your fundraising connects households and communities to critical food programs, provides immediate food relief to people and families facing hunger, and advocates to make food more accessible and affordable for everyone in Massachuestts.

There is no fundraising minimum for participants

Your Fundraising Impact

You Keep Kids Fed Year-Round

Your contributions ensure year-round access to delicious, nourishing meals for Massachusetts children throughout the school year and during the summer months!

In just July 2023, an astounding 2,110,674 free, nutritious summer meals were provided. And from September 2022 to May 2023, a total of 133,151,231 school meals were served to students, providing vital support and nourishment to our youth.

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Compassionate Help for All MA Residents

Your fundraising plays a vital role in sustaining Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline, a lifeline for those grappling with hunger.

Throughout 2023, your generous support enabled us to respond to over 19,781 calls, offering compassionate assistance in 180+ languages through our dedicated counselors.

Your impact resonates deeply, especially in aiding the 1 in 4 families with children currently facing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to the nourishment they need.

Solving Hunger Through Advocacy

Your support amplifies advocacy efforts, collaborating with legislators and officials to create sustainable, scalable solutions to hunger.

You’ve helped us have a seat at the table (with the big guys)! Project Bread's CEO, Erin McAleer, actively engages in crucial discussions on how to best address the state of food insecurity.We proudly accepted an invitation to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, where our voice contributes to shaping impactful solutions.

Together, we champion policies like free School Meals for All to ensure no one in Massachusetts ever has to go to bed hungry again.


 

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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Good Fun for a Great Cause

Start a Personal Fundraiser, Fundraising Team, or Donate today to make it easier for people in Massachusetts to access and afford food with dignity.

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Your Legacy

Five Decades of Transformative Impact

In 1969, Patrick Hughes had a groundbreaking idea: The Walk for Hunger. Turning his visionary concept into reality, he ignited a community-led movement that has fueled over five decades of social justice, grassroots activism, and significant anti-hunger efforts in Massachusetts.

The Beginning

1969

The 1st Pledge Walk in the Country

A group of activists from the Paulist Center in downtown Boston, led by Patrick Hughes, established the inaugural pledge walk, marking a historic milestone as the first of its kind in the nation. Approximately 2,000 individuals embarked on a remarkable 29.6-mile journey through Quincy, raising an impressive $26,000 to support two vital hunger projects. The Walk's dual objectives, fundraising to alleviate hunger and championing social justice, laid the foundation for an enduring annual movement that persistently drives positive change to this day.

 

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Building on Success

1970

The Walk Moves to Boston

Following the triumphant launch, Patrick Hughes relocated The Walk for Hunger to Boston, where it has proudly stood as a beacon of hope for half a century. And once again, 2,000 compassionate citizens gathered to walk a slightly shorter 25-mile route, reinforcing their commitment to addressing hunger and championing social change.

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The 1st Decade

1979

A Decade of Impact Celebrated

As Massachusetts grappled with nearly 10% of its population living below the poverty line, The Walk for Hunger marked its 10th anniversary. Almost 3,000 participants joined forces, walking 20-miles to raise crucial funds and awarding grants to 34 emergency food programs.

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A Fundraising Milestone

1985

The First Million-Dollar Walk

The Walk achieved a significant milestone, raising an unprecedented $1 million with 11,000 participants, including then-Senator John Kerry, working to alleviate hunger for families across Massachusetts.

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30 Years Strong

1999

The Walk's Anniversary

Despite economic prosperity, hunger persisted in Massachusetts, prompting concerned citizens to gather on the Boston Common for the 30th Walk for Hunger. The event raised an impressive $3 million, supporting over 350 emergency food programs.

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Boston Strong

2013

Community Resilience Shines

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, an estimated 30,000 resilient individuals convened for The Walk for Hunger on Boston Common, raising $3.1 million to combat food insecurity and showcasing the strength and heart of our dedicated community.

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COVID-19 Crisis Response

2020

Going Virtual

In response to the pandemic, The Walk for Hunger pivoted to a virtual format, with 1,700 participants raising $1.3 million in critical anti-hunger relief. These funds played a pivotal role in Project Bread's rapid response to the emerging hunger crisis during the early days of COVID-19 closures and layoffs.

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Back in Person

2023

Reuniting for a More Accessible Event

After two years of virtual participation, Massachusetts witnessed the triumphant return of The Walk for Hunger to Boston. The redesigned 3-mile route around the Boston Common increased accessibility and reduced planning costs, enabling individuals and families of diverse abilities and ages to participate while directing more funds toward statewide anti-hunger efforts.

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