The Walk for Hunger

Learn how you can support the largest community fundraiser to alleviate hunger in Massachusetts and raise the issue of hunger in our state.

2023 Event Homepage
Children in Walk for Hunger t-shirts hold hands as they walk in front of adults.

About The Walk

Community Powered Hunger Relief.

The Walk for Hunger is a community movement to change the face of food insecurity in Massachusetts. Since 1969, on the first Sunday in May, we—a community of thousands of neighbors from all walks of life—walk together to make a statement about the state of hunger in Massachusetts, and to take a step towards a permanent solution.

Sunday May 7, 2023  

Although the 2023 in-person event has taken place, you can still register to fundraise through the summer. Thank you!

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HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT THE 2023 WALK?

  • Start a Fundraiser

    as an individual or team. No registration fee.

    Register
  • Donate

    in support of a participant or team

    Search
  • Donate

    to support the event

    Donate
  • Join The Commonwealth

    For MA-based orgs. & programs making food more accessible and/or affordable to low-income residents are eligible for 60/40 fundraising team split. Submit the eligibility enrollment form before April 15, 2023

    Learn More

2023 Walk for Hunger FAQ's

The event is on Boston Common, on the corner of Beacon St. and Charles St.

You can find street parking (meter is free on Sunday) or the closest parking garage is on Boston Common at 0 Charles St.

The closest T stops is red/green Park St. station or green Boylston St station.

If you are coming from the blue line, the closest is Government Center with a 10 minute walk. 

You can use 0 Charles St, the parking garage address to put into your navigation for walking directions.

Check in and Day of Registration opens at 8am, where walkers will be given their tshirt, button, and event guide. The Walk starts at 9am and will wrap up around 11am. 

We love dogs...but ask you please leave them at home for the safety of your dog and participants. Service dogs are welcome.

As Project Bread's flagship community event and fundraiser, money raised through The Walk for Hunger funds state-wide anti-hunger relief initiatives in Massachusetts. And advocate for policies that make food more accessible for everyone.

Additionally, Walk Teams that represent organizations that have their own community-based anti-hunger programs are eligible to join The Commonwealth fundraising share prorgram. 60% of funds raised by these teams are granted back to their organizations to support their community initiatives.

Yes! Project Bread is thrilled to be hosting an in-person Walk event on Boston Common - on Sunday, May 7, 2023 -  for the first time since 2019! The in-person Walk will take the form of a fun-filled 3-mile walk around Boston Common. Check back for more details on what we’ll have in store on the Common this year!!

No! You do not need to join us on Boston Common in order to participate or fundraise. Tere s an option when you register to "Come to the Common" or "Walk Your Own Way". Many people enjoyed this flexibility over the last 3 years and we are looking forward to seeing your creative celebrations of the spirit of The Walk for Hunger. 

No problem! Just email us at walk@projectbread.org and let us know, and we can update your registration to "Fundraiser + "Walk Your Own Way".

Nothing will change with your fundraising center and page.  

But knowing who and who isn't going to be coming to the Common on May 7 helps us keep an accurate headcount for planning a fun and safe in-person event experience. 

No problem! Just email us at walk@projectbread.org and let us know, and we can update your registration to "Fundraiser + Coming to Walk on the Boston Common".

Nothing will change with your fundraising center and page.  

But knowing who and who isn't going to be coming to the Common on May 7 helps us keep an accurate headcount for planning a fun and safe in-person event experience. 

If you would like to walk for longer distances, the “Walk Your Own Way” participation option is for you!

This new 3-mile iteration of The Walk, with increased accessibility and lower costs, will allow for more funds to be directed to state-wide anti-hunger work. The true mission and spirit of our treasured Massachusetts' tradition of neighbors helping neighbors.

In 1969, The Walk for Hunger was founded on the promise, by the people of Massachusetts, to provide relief to our neighbors struggling with food insecurity. This grassroots movement took to the streets - probably without permits- to raise money for food relief by walking as a community - and it worked! 

But a lot has changed over 54 years. You can imagine that the expense of keeping our 20 mile route, and ensuring the safety of our participants, has risen with every passing year.

In order to continue to uphold our promise, The Walk has to adapt, so we can continue to be effective in serving our mission. 

There is no registration fee for the 2023 Walk for Hunger. There is no fee to start a fundraiser. There is no fee to attend the event on Boston Common. We do ask that everyone registers, as we need an accurate headcount to create the best experience on Boston Common for participants.

No. There is no fundraising minimum for The Walk for Hunger. We recommend a fundraising goal of $250 for individuals. Raising $500 to join the Heart & Sole Circle, our group of elite fundraisers! As a "Heart & Soler" you'll receive Heart & Sole recognition on your 2023 Walk for Hunger t-shirt and personalized fundraising support from our team.

Little girl with glasses beams while wearing a Walk for Hunger bandana as a cape Starts Line

The People's Walk

An Extraordinary Event Sustained By Ordinary People.

Over five decades, The Walk for Hunger has generated more than a hundred million dollars -  through individual contributions of less than $100 - to fund solutions to hunger in Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth

60/40 Fundraising Split for Anti-Hunger Partners

The Commonwealth is 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 anti-hunger programs!

Massachusetts-based organizations and programs making healthy food more accessible and/or affordable to low-income residents are invited to participate in The Commonwealth. 

By forming a single team for The Walk for Hunger to represent your organization or program, teams participating in The Commonwealth will retain 60% of the funds raised by their team, with the remaining 40% of funds raised applied to statewide solutions.

Deadlines for organizations to enroll in The Commonwealth is April 15, 2023. After April 15 enrollment is on a case by case basis, please reach out to kellie_vehlies@projectbread.org if you would like to enroll after April 15.

After eligibility is verified, the team captain will be invited to form their team, before their teammates register and join!

Since its inception in 2019, The Commonwealth has granted $460,000 to anti-hunger programs through their Fundraising Teams for The Walk for Hunger.

The Commonwealth fundraising share program Starts Line

The Commonwealth

2023 Participating Teams

American Red Cross of Massachusetts
Team Page

Bread of Life
Team Page

Brookline Food Pantry
Team Page

Centre For Food Justice
Team Page

Church of the Covenant Food Pantry
Team Page

Everett Community Growers
Team Page

First Congregational Church of Revere Food Pantry
Team Page

Food for Free
Team page

Harvard Square Churches Meal Program
Team page

Healthy Students Healthy Saugus
Team Page

JF&CS Family Table
Team page

Merrimack Valley YMCA
Team Page

Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC)
Team Page

Newton Food Pantry
Team Page

The Paulist Center: Home of the Wednesday Night Supper Club
Team Page

People Helping People
Team page

PHA Thrive
Team page

Rose's Bounty
Team page

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services
Team Page

Sudbury Community Food Pantry
Team page

Team MANNA
Team page

Waltham Fields Community Farm
Team page

Watertown Food Pantry
Team Page

YMCA of Greater Boston
Team Page

YMCA Southcoast
Team page

Fundraising Resources
& Promotional Materials

Resources, tools, and ideas to help participants and teams recruit and fundraise!

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Explore Your Participant Center

Once registered, every participant will receive a confirmation email with a username and password to login to their Participant Center. This is where participants manage their event experience. From a Participant Center, participants tell a story to inspire others to donate, send email messages to recruit team members and solicit funds from family and friends, and track progress toward a fundraising goal!

If you are a Team Captain, you will also have a "Team" tab in your participant center to manage your roster, team fundraising goal, and team fundraising progress. 

Recruitment Resources

Flyers & Handouts

Fundraising Resources

Social Media Toolkits

Cash & Check Donations

Offline Fundraising Resources

Use these resources to keep track of cash or check gifts.

For Individuals & Teams

Fundraising Ideas

Having enough food is a basic human right, and Project Bread's Walk for Hunger is one of the most important causes that I support.”

Heart & Sole Fundraiser and 29-year Walker, 2019 Walk for Hunger

Why Walk?

For generations, The Walk for Hunger has been the achievement not of individuals or particular groups, but of an entire community.

Get updates

Your Legacy

Over five decades of impact

In 1969, Patrick Hughes had an idea; The Walk for Hunger. He put his revolutionary idea into action, to catalyze five decades of social justice, grassroots activism, and anti-hunger impact in Massachusetts. 

Innovation

1969

The 1st Pledge Walk in the Country

A group of activists from the Paulist Center in downtown Boston, led by Patrick Hughes, established the very first pledge walk in the country. An estimated 2,000 people walked an astounding 29.6 mile trek through Quincy, raising $26,000 to help fund two hunger projects. The Walk had two purposes: raise funds to help people experiencing hunger and stand together for social justice and social change that would eventually eliminate hunger. This is still true today and continues to be an annual force for change. 

Old faded photo of a large group of people facing the camera at the first Walk for Hunger in Boston Starts Line

Building on Success

1970

The Walk moves to Boston

After the success of the first Walk for Hunger, Patrick moves the event to Boston, where it has stayed for five decades. 2,000 concerned citizens once again come together and walk 25 miles, a slightly shorter route.

The Walk for Hunger 1970 at Governement Center Starts Line

Hitting stride

1973

Reducing the route

The Walk for Hunger route is reduced from 25 miles to 20 miles—the same distance it is today. About 1,000 people complete the new route that takes them from Government Center through the South End, South Boston, Beacon Hill, and Allston, and finishes at the Boston Common.

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The 1st decade

1979

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact

With nearly 10% of people in Massachusetts living below the poverty line, hunger persists in the Commonwealth. Nearly 3,000 people participate in the 10th Anniversary of The Walk for Hunger and help raise much needed funds, grants were awarded to 34 emergency food programs.

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Fundraising Milestone

1985

The 1st Million-Dollar Walk

The first time The Walk for Hunger raised $1 million! 11,000 people participated to help feed hungry families in Massachusetts, including, then Senator, John Kerry. 

1985 john kerry supports The Walk for Hunger Starts Line

Going Strong

1999

The Walk for Hunger’s 30th anniversary

Despite a strong economy, hunger was continuing to rise in Massachusetts. Concerned citizens in the Bay State filled Boston Common to participate, raising $3 million to support more than 350 emergency food programs.

The Walk for Hunger 1992 Starts Line

Boston Strong

2013

The Strength of Our Community Shines

An estimated 30,000 people came together on Boston Common for The Walk for Hunger, the first large-scale public event in Boston since the Marathon bombing. Our resliant community came together, showing  strength and heart, raising $3.1 million to fight hunger.  

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COVID-19 Crisis Response

2020

Going virtual

The Walk was less than a month away when the state shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic reaching Massachusetts. For the first time ever, The Walk for Hunger occurred virtually. Despite not being together, 1,700 participants raised $1.3 million, funds that were instrumental in enabling Project Bread to rapidly respond to the COVID-19 hunger crisis in the early days of closures and layoffs.  

two walkers with masks smile for a selfie as they walk their own route for the 2020 Walk for Hunger that went virtual for the first time Starts Line

COVID-19 Crisis Response

2021

Fundraising virtually from 29 states

The Walk for Hunger celebrated its 52nd year virtually for the 2nd year due to health concerns of the pandemic. That didn't stop 1,545 participants and 241 teams from raising $1.3 million for COVID-19 hunger relief, many walking in their "pods" on the first Sunday in May, across the state—and across the country.

A man wearing a mask has wide open arms as he walks through Boston Common as a virtual walk with his team from Boston St. Paul's Cathedral for the 2022 virtual Walk for Hunger Starts Line

Together Again

2023

A more accessible event experience

After being virtual since 2019, Massachusetts' iconic community event returned to Boston! The in-person event took the form of a 3-mile walk around Boston Common. This new route increased accessibility and lowered costs, allowing for more people of different abilities and age to participate and more funds to be directed to state-wide anti-hunger work.

A crowd of people waits at the starting line of The 2023 Walk for Hunger on Boston Common Starts Line
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