Bread of Life takes steps to fight hunger at Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger

Malden-based nonprofit supports statewide food security through The Commonwealth program

On May 3, 2026, Bread of Life Inc. stepped up for Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger. For the fourth consecutive year, the Malden-based nonprofit raised funds to support statewide food security through Project Bread’s Commonwealth program. Participating organizations receive 60% of the funds they raise to support their own hunger relief programs, with the remaining 40% contributing to Project Bread’s broader statewide efforts to ensure access to nutritious food for all children and families.

After nearly six decades, the Walk for Hunger continues to evolve — not only as a cherished community tradition, but as a critical response to a growing crisis. Today, 40% of Massachusetts households are experiencing food insecurity, while rising food prices and potential changes to federal nutrition programs, including SNAP, threaten to deepen the challenge.

“Every annual Walk, every dollar raised moves us closer to a Massachusetts where no family has to wonder where they will get their next meal,” says Project Bread President & CEO Erin McAleer. “Coming together as an anti-hunger community is at the heart of this effort. Bread of Life’s commitment to ending food insecurity, along with the dedication of walkers and supporters, makes Massachusetts healthier and stronger for all of us.”

Bread of Life provides more than one million pounds of food per year to neighbors in need across 13 communities north of Boston. It operates a grocery delivery program, the Everett Mobile Market, an evening meals program, a backpack nutrition program, the Family Care Pantry, Malden Food Mart and a Food Access Project. Beyond its direct service programs, Bread of Life recently joined the Make Hunger History Coalition, which is led by Project Bread. Bread of Life Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack is a member of the Malden Food Policy Council. In addition, Bread of Life is a member of the Tri-City Hunger Network and the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. This year a team of seven hit the pavement on Boston Common in Bread of Life T-shirts in support of neighbors facing food insecurity across the region.

“Our mission is based on serving our neighbors with food insecurity, and being part of Project Bread’s mission keeps our focus and passion for those in need,” says Bread of Life Bookkeeper Cindy Robillard. “The funds we raise have helped Bread of Life continue programs that are crucial to helping our neighbors in need.”

The Walk — founded in 1969 as a grassroots movement for social change — remains the nation’s oldest continually running pledge walk and one of the Commonwealth’s most visible demonstrations of collective action to end hunger. In 2019, Project Bread launched The Commonwealth, “a fundraising share program that invites Project Bread’s anti-hunger partners to leverage The Walk for Hunger to directly raise funds for their own programs!” In 2025, 51 nonprofits raised more than $200,000 to support their own programs for statewide food security.

This year participants gathered for a family-friendly, fully accessible three-mile loop on Boston Common, alongside virtual walkers participating from across Massachusetts, the country and beyond. Funds raised support Project Bread’s comprehensive approach to food security, including policy advocacy, prevention strategies, and partnerships that address the root causes of hunger. The event featured live entertainment, local food vendors, a cooking demonstration and multilingual, inclusive programming with ASL interpretation.

Fundraising for The Walk for Hunger will continue through the summer. Donate directly to Bread of Life’s Commonwealth fundraiser at give.projectbread.org/BreadofLife. Visit www.projectbread.org/walk to donate or start a personal fundraiser to support this ongoing 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 prescreen families and help them to apply for SNAP. Learn more at projectbread.org/get-help.

  More about Bread of Life Inc.

Bread of Life is a nonprofit, nondenominational, faith-based food security organization based in Malden, that provides over 1.2 million pounds of free food annually to economically struggling and disadvantaged families, individuals, youth and senior citizens in the North Metro Boston area, including Malden and 12 surrounding communities. Founded in 1980 and incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization in 1992, Bread of Life brings together hundreds of volunteers and dozens of partner organizations from the faith community, businesses, civic organizations, schools, government, food rescue efforts and other nonprofit organizations to distribute food through its programs: food marts, congregate meals, grocery delivery to senior citizens and disabled residents, nutrition backpack distribution to Everett public school youth and Food Access project to overcome barriers to accessing nutritious food encountered by lower-income communities with respect to race, ethnicity, language, culture, age, gender and other factors.