Boston-Based Nonprofits Raise $46,000 During the 56th Walk for Hunger

BOSTON – On May 5, teams from The Paulist Center, YMCA of Greater Boston, American Red Cross-Boston Food Pantry, and Many Angels Needed Now and Always (MANNA), were among over 4,200 participants who laced up for Project Bread’s 56th annual Walk for Hunger, both in person and virtual. The Boston-based nonprofits raised 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 effort. Fundraising for the teams will continue through June 30.

Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, which began in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation, celebrates and raises awareness of the nonprofit’s year-round efforts to fight hunger. The one-day event on the Boston Common featured family-friendly activities, programming, and games. In keeping with the community-spirit of the event, the Walk provides a platform for other organizations to fund the vital work they do for food security locally. In 2019, Project Bread launched the joint fundraising program, The Commonwealth, to uplift the work of community-based organizations. This year, 39 nonprofits participated in the program, raising more than $158,000 and counting.

“We have made incredible strides against hunger, from the passage of permanent free school meals in Massachusetts to increasing access to SNAP for immigrants facing food insecurity,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread’s CEO. “But hunger is still a pervasive problem in our state, with 1 in 6 households and 1 in 5 households with children currently facing food insecurity. The work of our partners at The Paulist Center, the YMCA of Greater Boston, the American Red Cross-Boston Food Pantry, and MANNA, reflects what the Walk is all about – continuing to step up each year to make sure our neighbors in need can access and afford food. These Walk teams understand how we need to work together for statewide food security because our community is what makes us stronger.”

The Paulist Center is an inclusive Catholic community that welcomes all, fosters healing, and acts for justice. In the 1960’s, the group started a tradition of the “Wednesday Night Supper Club” to feed homeless and hungry people. Recognizing a need to fund this important new outreach ministry, the Paulist Center Community founded the nation’s first community pledge walk, now known as Project Bread’s annual Walk for Hunger. Today, the tradition continues as the Wednesday Night Supper Club at the Paulist Center serves 140-160 hot meals to guests in downtown Boston every Wednesday night. The Wednesday Night Supper Club's Walk team of up to 50 participants aimed to collectively raise $50,000 to support Project Bread and to purchase food and supper supplies.

“The Walk for Hunger was started at the Paulist Center over 50 years ago and we have participated every year since raising thousands of dollars and helped to promote the statewide food security nonprofit’s anti-hunger efforts,” says Mares Beauvais, Supper Team Leader at The Paulist Center. “Participating in the Walk for Hunger is how we sustain our operations – and we love the community aspect of the event. It gives us an opportunity to gather in a different group setting and meet our neighbors.”

The YMCA of Greater Boston is dedicated to improving the health of mind, body, and spirit of individuals and families in our communities and provides welcoming, belonging and opportunity for all. The nonprofit’s Hunger Prevention Programs play a vital role in fighting food insecurity in each of the 13 communities it serves. Every day, the YMCA of Greater Boston partners with other community organizations, such as Project Bread through the Summer Eats program, to provide nutritious and culturally relevant meals for children and families. In addition to serving as a sponsor meal site for the Summer Food Service Program, the organization offers a Grocery Bag Distribution Program, Mobile Market Food Truck, and SNAP Education Program with a focus on SNAP-eligible, low-income households, and historically marginalized groups.

“Supporting Project Bread’s mission is important to us because we are both working toward a common goal – to address not only hunger, but food access and food insecurity challenges that people face,” says Eilisha Manandhar, the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Senior Director of Hunger Prevention. “Participating in the Walk for Hunger not only raises awareness of hunger in our communities, but also highlights our interconnected work to eliminate hunger through direct service, policy, and prevention. It was inspiring to see so many people of all different ages come out for the event this year.”

The American Red Cross-Boston Food Pantry works to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Programs serve BIPOC, seniors, adults, children, students, health care patients, immigrants, homebound, people living with substance abuse disorder, people living with disabilities, and people living in homelessness and include: the onsite pantry itself, located at 1033 Massachusetts Avenue; mobile food distributions to select Boston Public Schools, the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, (and other Food Is Medicine Initiatives); the Home Delivery Program; senior citizen-focused programs; and an onsite Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) Benefits Kiosk to apply for SNAP, Cash Benefits and Employment & Training Assistance Programs that staff administers. Ten staff members laced up for the American Red Cross-Boston Food Pantry Walk with the goal of raising $1,000 for the cause.

“Food insecurity is a tremendous problem that calls for collaboration, community engagement, and collective action,” says David Andre, Director of the Boston Food Pantry. “We utilize the data that Project Bread shares in their research studies and distribute their FoodSource Hotline resources with people calling us in need of help with food when our pantry is not open. It was great to come together again in the presence of thousands of like-minded people in a beautiful outdoor environment on Walk day!”

MANNA is a community with and for people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorders. Identified as a faith community, the organization seeks to provide nourishment through shared meals, emotional and spiritual support, and prayer. The community is diverse in culture, gender, sexual identity, housed and unhoused. Each time the community meets, MANNA serves between 35 and 75 people. Programs of the organization include community meetings to share resources, light breakfast Sunday through Tuesday, community lunch and worship every Monday, a writers' group, and meditation. Their Walk for Hunger team raised money to fight food insecurity in Massachusetts and support their own food ministry to help serve people facing extreme food scarcity.

“Participating in the Walk for Hunger is a meaningful part of our community’s life together,” says Christie Towers, Chaplain to MANNA. “Many of our members experience food insecurity, or have at other times in their lives, and doing this walk together empowers us to stand up for ourselves and all others who are experiencing hunger. It provides us with a platform to discuss the serious injustices we face as a community and an opportunity for real, impactful action. And we have fun doing it!”

This year’s 3-mile route on the Boston Common was accessible for all ages and ability levels. Walkers participated in family-friendly activities, including lawn games, face painting, arts and crafts, and more. Project Bread’s Chef Sherry Hughes opened the morning with a Grains & Greens recipe demonstration with WROR 105.7 station hosts Bob & LBF. Live performances by bands What She Said and Bad Bat kept Walkers entertained throughout the morning. Families learned about Project Bread’s role in the recently launched Make Hunger History coalition, a first-of-its-kind convening of policymakers, businesses, service providers, and people with lived experience to end hunger in Massachusetts permanently.

Donate directly to The Paulist Center Commonwealth team at give.projectbread.org/team/562353. Donate directly to YMCA of Greater Boston’s Commonwealth team at give.projectbread.org/team/570666. Donate directly to American Red Cross-Boston Food Pantry’s Commonwealth team at give.projectbread.org/team/573527. Donate directly to MANNA’s Commonwealth team at https://give.projectbread.org/team/570942. Project Bread’s 56th annual Walk for Hunger aims to raise $1.3 million for statewide food security through the summer. Visit www.projectbread.org/walk to donate or start a personal fundraiser to support this mission.

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 www.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.