Charlestown Resident and Campers Join Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger

On May 3, Kathleen Chiong, of Charlestown, will join thousands of walkers for Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger. Participants will walk a 3-mile loop on the Boston Common or virtually in their own neighborhoods to raise funds that support children and families facing food insecurity across the Commonwealth. This year’s Walk is expected to raise over $1 million to fund Project Bread’s proven statewide programs to ensure access to nutritious food for all.

Now in its 58th year, The Walk for Hunger remains the organization’s flagship community event, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors in a celebration of compassion and action. The event kicks off Sunday, May 3 at 9 a.m. with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The route is fully accessible, and ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present to ensure everyone can participate.

“Every step we take at The Walk for Hunger is a step toward a future where no family has to worry about their next meal,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “Our walkers and supporters are turning their compassion into action. Together, we’re not just walking—we’re building a stronger, more food-secure Massachusetts.”

Chiong, 36, a Boston Public Schools teacher and founder of Campassion—a volunteerism camp for children based in Charlestown—has been participating in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger since 2023. Although she has long known about the Walk as a staple community event, her involvement deepened when she launched Campassion and brought a group of 15 campers to participate in their first-ever service activity. What began as a small, meaningful community opportunity has since grown alongside her program, with more than 50 children engaging each year. Drawing on her decade in the classroom, the Charlestown resident has witnessed firsthand the effects of food insecurity on young students, from fatigue and illness to challenges in learning, reinforcing her belief that access to nutritious food is a basic human right. Through Campassion, she creates space for children of all backgrounds to learn about food justice, build empathy, and take action—organizing food drives for local partners such as New Health in Charlestown and the Harvest on Vine food pantry. This year, Chiong will walk in person on Boston Common with her Campassion team, proudly wearing their camp shirts and cheering on her campers as they turn lessons into impact. While her team continues to grow, she remains motivated by the sense of community the Walk fosters and the powerful role young people play in creating change.

“Throughout Campassion, we talk so much about food insecurity and helping others, but Walk day is when it all comes to life,” says Chiong. “Watching kids feel proud, excited, and empowered to make a real impact is the most meaningful part. One of my campers said it best: ‘If one person is facing food insecurity, then it’s all of our issue.’ That’s what this day is about—showing kids that their small steps can lead to something really big.”

Donate directly to Chiong’s fundraiser at give.projectbread.org/Campassion2026. 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.