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MALDEN, Mass. – On May 4, Kelsey Briggs, of Malden, will step up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. She will be among over 3,500 participants, both in-person and virtual, to walk the 3-mile loop around the Boston Common or in their own neighborhoods. The one-day community event will raise more than $1 million to support the leading statewide food security organization’s approach to ensure food access for all children and families in Massachusetts.
The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brings together a diverse community dedicated to ensuring food security across the Commonwealth. The celebration is set for Sunday, May 4 at 9 a.m. and will feature family-friendly activities, food and entertainment. This year’s Walk will remain an accessible route on the fully paved sidewalks, allowing people with mobility devices, young children, and other needs to participate. ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present throughout the event. Beginning in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation, money raised from The Walk for Hunger is critical to fund Project Bread’s statewide work for systemic change for hunger relief.
“It is becoming more and more difficult for people to afford enough to eat,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “One in 5 families with kids are worried about where their next meal will come from. The Walk for Hunger is our opportunity to make an immediate difference in the lives of thousands of our neighbors. The people – our walkers, volunteers, and donors – are what make The Walk for Hunger such a powerful event. Together, as a community, we’re making sure people can access food with dignity and choice each day.”
Briggs, a 32-year-old Food Access Coordinator from Malden, will hit the pavement for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger for the first time this year as part of Team NeighborHealth. She first learned about the Walk two years ago when she started working at NeighborHealth, where Project Bread has long supported the organization’s food access programs. As a farmers market manager, Briggs is passionate about connecting under-resourced residents with healthy, local food and believes that access to nutritious options should never be a privilege. Walking alongside community members who care deeply about food justice, she hopes to raise $500 for the cause while raising awareness for the need for sustainable support amid federal assistance cuts.
“I’m walking because food access is a human right,” says Briggs. “Too many families I support want to eat healthy but simply can’t afford it. This walk is one way I can stand in solidarity with them—and show that we’re fighting for a future where nutritious, local food is accessible to everyone.”
Donate directly to Brigg’s fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/fundraiser/6269354. 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.
