The Walk for Hunger

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. 

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 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.

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.

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. 

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 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.  

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.