Faith Communities Raise $19,754 at 17th Annual Interfaith Walk to End Hunger in Westwood

WESTWOOD, Mass. - About 70 community members of different faiths gathered at Temple Beth David on Sunday, Oct. 25, for the 17th annual Interfaith Walk to End Hunger. Together they have raised $19,754 to support Project Bread's statewide work making food more accessible and affordable for Massachusetts residents. Donations are still being accepted through November.

The family-friendly 3-mile route began and ended at the temple. Participants represented houses of worship in Westwood, Norwood, Medfield, Dedham, and surrounding towns. The walk was open to anyone, whether or not they belong to a faith community. Walkers also dropped off non-perishable food, toiletries and hygiene products for the Westwood Food Pantry.

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Gail Mann, Chair of the Social Action Committee at Temple Beth David, kicked off the afternoon remarks, followed by Christian Miron, Vice President of Individual Giving at Project Bread.

Leaders of local faith communities shared remarks and blessings with the crowd, including Rabbi Karen S. Citrin from Temple Beth David. Other houses of worship represented include First Congregational Church Norwood, Church Of The Advent, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, St. Susanna's Parish Dedham, and St. John's Westwood. After this short speaking program, families and neighbors took to the sidewalks of Westwood, many pushing strollers or with leashed dogs in tow.

The Interfaith Walk to End Hunger spans three miles, and this year they introduced a more accessible two-mile route so that even more community members could join in on the good times for a great cause. With many sporting t-shirts from Project Bread's Walk for Hunger, hosted on the first Sunday in May every year since 1969, this smiling group stood out proudly across the course.

"Hunger doesn't stop at a town line or at the door of any one congregation," says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. "When people from different traditions walk side by side, they make a public case that no one in Massachusetts should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, and every dollar raised today goes toward making that true."

The walk took place as the need for food assistance continues to grow across the state. In 2025, 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank, including roughly 1 in 2 Black and Latino/a households. Cuts to SNAP in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, have added pressure on families who rely on federal nutrition programs to put food on the table.

"For 17 years, this community has shown that ending hunger is a shared responsibility," says Miron. "At a time when so many Massachusetts families are struggling to put food on the table, that commitment matters more than ever. Thank you all for coming together to support our neighbors and advocate for lasting change. Together, we can move closer to a Massachusetts where everyone has the food they need to thrive."

Funds from the Interfaith Walk to End Hunger support Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline and its efforts to keep children fed through school and summer meals. The money also backs the organization's policy advocacy, including its leadership of the Make Hunger History Coalition, a statewide network of more than 700 partners working to end hunger in Massachusetts permanently. To donate, visit https://give.projectbread.org/event/the-interfaith-walk-to-end-hunger-2026/e824493.

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.

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