Walk for Hunger

The Walk for Hunger is a charity walk designed to help raise money for hungry people in the state of Massachusetts. It is the oldest continual pledge walk in the country and the largest annual one-day fundraiser to alleviate local hunger in Massachusetts. The first Walk began in 1969 by group of activists from the Paulist Center, led by Patrick Hughes. An estimated 2,000 people walked and raised $26,000 to help fund two hunger projects. In 2006, 43,000 participated and raised $3.5 million dollars to help 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs across Massachusetts.

The 20-mile Walk occurs annually on the first Sunday in May and weaves through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown and Cambridge, and includes entertainment and free snacks along the way.

Heart & Sole Walkers and Volunteers

Unlike regular Walkers, The Heart & Sole Walkers must raise at least $500 to become part of the Heart & Sole Circle. The group raises more than $1 million to help hungry people annually. These special Walkers are between the ages of 9 and 90. Their help is what makes it possible to raise one third of the money given to help the hungry. Special T-shirts are given to these individuals.

Volunteers at the Walk help assist Walkers. At each checkpoint, volunteers help check off mile sheets, hand out cold water, assist Walkers by helping them cross the streets safely and motivating the participants.

Numbers

According to Project Bread, here is a list of essentials and how much was needed behind the scenes at the 38th Walk For Hunger in 2006:

*Population: 30,000 to 40,000+
*Sites: 9 checkpoints
*Security: Centrally coordinated route
*Police Dept: 100 police in 5 municipalities
*Crossing Guards: 600 Stationary Marshals supervise route
*Medical: 9 First Aid stations supplied by Tyco Healthcare, EMT and medical personnel on bikes, Lost Persons tent
*Sewage: 364 portable toilets
*Water: 10,000+ gallons of Belmont Springs Water at 10 water stations
*Hotspots: More than 30 performing groups and individuals
*Food Festival: 35,000 snack bags and Brigham’s ice cream bars
*Tourist Attractions: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts “Welcome Walkers” health fair tent,” “World’s Largest Lemonade Stand” sponsored by Harvard University
*Telecommunications: Cell phones, portable landlines, and 75 ham radio operators
*Curfew: 6:00 p.m.
*Furniture: 408 tables and 1203 chairs
*Shelter: 14 tents
*Transport: 54 free shuttle buses
*Trash: 32,000 trash bags
*Public Servants: More than 2,000 Volunteers
*Public Health: 300 gallons of sunscreen

References / See also

* [http://www.projectbread.org/ Project Bread]
** [http://www.projectbread.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_main The Walk for Hunger]