WILMINGTON, MA — On May 3, 2026, Mark Sullivan, of Wilmington, will join thousands of walkers for Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger. Participants will walk a 3-mile loop on the Boston Common or virtually in their own neighborhoods to raise funds that support children and families facing food insecurity across the Commonwealth. This year’s Walk is expected to raise over $1 million to fund Project Bread’s proven statewide programs to ensure access to nutritious food for all.
Now in its 58th year, The Walk for Hunger remains the organization’s flagship community event, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors in a celebration of compassion and action. The event kicks off Sunday, May 3 at 9 a.m. with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The route is fully accessible, and ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present to ensure everyone can participate.
“Every step we take at The Walk for Hunger is a step toward a future where no family has to worry about their next meal,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “Our walkers and supporters are turning their compassion into action. Together, we’re not just walking—we’re building a stronger, more food-secure Massachusetts.”
Sullivan, 76, has been participating in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger for 40 years. The retired federal employee, who spent nearly 38 years in public service, first heard about the annual fundraiser through The Paulist Center, the founding team of The Walk for Hunger in 1969. He walks each year out of a commitment to helping others and advancing social justice. Outside of The Walk for Hunger, the Wilmington resident contributes to the local Wilmington Food Pantry and his parish’s food pantry. This year, Sullivan set a fundraising goal of $500. In the 21 years for which he has records, he has raised more than $26,000 for the cause.
“Despite so much effort to relieve hunger, the need continues,” says Sullivan. “The Walk for Hunger is the oldest continuous pledge walk, and it works to meet a very basic need. Hunger and want are made visible, as is the effort to alleviate it.”
Donate directly to Sullivan’s fundraiser at give.projectbread.org/fundraiser/7031248. To register as a participant for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, or to support a walker or team with a donation, visit give.projectbread.org/walk. All individual walkers are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $25 and teams $250. Participants who raise $500 or more are recognized as Heart & Sole walkers and receive access to personalized fundraising support, exclusive event gear, free breakfast on Walk Day, and invitations to exclusive 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 projectbread.org/get-help.
About Project Bread
Project Bread is the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts. Beginning in 1969 with the first Walk for Hunger, the nonprofit focuses on driving systemic change to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.
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