Walk for Hunger
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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.
Each year on the first Sunday in May, people from every background, united in the spirit of helping others, come together to take part in this wonderful Massachusetts tradition to help feed hungry families in their communities.
The 20-mile Walk route weaves through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown and Cambridge, and includes entertainment and free snacks along the way.
[edit] Heart & Sole Walkers and Volunteers
Unlike regular walkers, The Heart & Sole walkers must raise at least $500 to become one. The group raises $1 million to help hungry people. 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 walkers.
[edit] 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
[edit] References / See also
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