Saugus High School’s National Honor Society Chapter hits the pavement for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger

Students raise money for statewide hunger relief

Special to The Advocate

On May 4, Saugus High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) will step up for Project Bread’s 57^th Walk for Hunger. For the fourth consecutive year, the student group will raise money for Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, a Saugus-based nonprofit group supporting 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 efforts.

The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brings together a diverse community dedicated to ensuring food security across the state. 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 fully paved sidewalks, allowing people with mobility devices, young children and people with other needs to participate. ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present throughout the event.

“It is becoming more and more difficult for people to afford enough to eat,” says Project Bread President & CEO Erin McAleer. “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 Healthy Students Healthy Saugus participants 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.”

Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus provides weekly bagged meals to food-insecure students in Saugus Public Schools. The Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Commonwealth team is made up of NHS students. As a community service-based organization, NHS is committed to helping the Saugus community and beyond by volunteering with Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus. Funds raised from the Walk for Hunger will help get more food to students and families in need in Saugus. This year, the 37-person team has a goal to raise $3,000 for the cause.

“This cause, this nonprofit, and this event have become a key part of our year,” says Saugus National Honor Society Faculty Advisor Michelle Lee. “We are eager for the new members of our chapter to experience the Walk for Hunger and help those who are in need of support in our community.”

The Walk for Hunger began in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation. The money the event raises is critical to fund systemic change for hunger relief. In 2019, Project Bread launched the joint-fundraising Commonwealth program. In 2024, 39 nonprofits raised more than $228,000 to support their own programs for statewide food security.

Donate directly to the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Commonwealth fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/team/651234. 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 prescreen families and help them to apply for SNAP. Learn more at projectbread.org/get-help.

About Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus

Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) is a nonprofit group of volunteers who are helping to offset food insecurity in households. HS2 provides students and families who enroll in the program with a weekend’s supply of nutritious food for when school lunches and breakfasts are unavailable to them on weekends. Find Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus on Facebook or email them at hs************@***il.com.