On May 5, Carro Oldham, of Beverly, and Lillian Brennan, of Peabody, will participate in Project Bread’s 56th annual Walk for Hunger. The North Shore residents will join 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 event is expected to raise more than $1.3 million to support Project Bread’s approach to permanently solving hunger in Massachusetts.
Since its inception in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation, Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger has united a diverse community dedicated to creating change. The one-day event is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, at 9 a.m. on the Boston Common and will feature family-friendly activities, programming, and games. Project Bread works year-round on policy initiatives, programs, and hunger prevention measures to ensure food access for all children and families across the Commonwealth.
“Funds raised through the Walk for Hunger directly contributed to Project Bread’s work to successfully lead the Feed Kids Coalition in advocating for the passage of permanent Universal School Meals in Massachusetts last year,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread’s CEO. “Our Walkers make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of Massachusetts residents, but hunger is still a pervasive problem in our state, with 1 in 6 households and 1 in 5 households with children currently facing food insecurity. Participating in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger is one way we can all do something real to ensure our neighbors can access and afford the food they need.”
As the Assistant Director of Operations at Flour Bakery + Café and a former chef, Oldham, 44, understands the importance of access to nutrition for good health. On Sunday, May 5, she will lead a group of friends and colleagues (Jes Morris, Lindsay Hildebrant + Siri Spencer) under the umbrella Team Flour Bakery + Café. Flour Bakery + Café supports the community by participating in local education, hunger relief, and charity events, like Project Bread’s 56th annual Walk for Hunger. This is the 5th consecutive year that the group will hit the pavement for the cause. They will walk the 3-mile loop around the Boston Common before Oldham continues her own 20-mile route. Together, they aim to raise $2,000.
“We are all part of a larger community and with everything happening in the world, a little camaraderie, donating time, and funds is the least we can do to make the world just that little bit better,” says Oldham. “It is so overwhelmingly positive to see so many people get together to walk and raise awareness and funds for such an amazing cause. The Flour Bakery + Café walk team cares passionately about hunger relief. I look forward to this event every year.”
This will be the first time Brennan, 24, participates in Project Bread’s annual Walk for Hunger. The ABA Paraprofessional is inspired to hit the pavement by her students. While she was fortunate not to experience food insecurity as a child, she sees the larger implications that hunger has on her students, many of whom rely on free school meals made possible by permanent School Meals for All legislation for which Project Bread and the nonprofit’s Feed Kids Coalition helped to pass last year. She will walk as an individual along the Boston Common three-mile route. She has already surpassed her fundraising goal of $500.
“Without the school providing these services, many of my students would spend the school day without a snack or meal,” says Brennan. “Project Bread specifically provides fresh fruits and vegetables to schools in the area, such as the one I work at. I feel motivated to show my support not only for myself but for my students who enjoy the fresh produce that is provided to them. By walking, I am supporting them and this work. I look forward to being surrounded by like-minded people and to celebrate giving back to those in need.”
Money raised through the Walk for Hunger is critical to Project Bread’s statewide work for systemic change through policy, prevention, and partnerships to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. In keeping with the community spirit of the event, the walk also provides a platform for organizations to fund the vital work they do for food security locally. In 2019, Project Bread launched a joint fundraising program, The Commonwealth, to uplift the work of like-minded organizations. In 2023, 34 nonprofits raised more than $160,000 to support their own programs.
“This year’s event will again be an accessible, 3-mile route, inviting people with mobility devices, strollers, young children, and other needs to all participate with us in ending hunger in Massachusetts,” says McAleer. “We cannot wait to welcome the Massachusetts community – both new and returning – together on the Common while continuing to engage those across the country making strides in the fight against hunger locally.”
To register as a participant for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger or to support a walker or team with a donation, visit projectbread.org/walk. There is no registration fee or fundraising minimum to participate, although a $250 minimum goal is suggested. Participants who raise $500 or more are recognized as Heart & Sole walkers and receive access to personalized fundraising support, exclusive event gear, and invitations to 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 www.projectbread.org/get-help.
