Project Bread's special 40th Walk for Hunger is Sunday, May 4, 2008. Walkers will enjoy a 20-mile route weaving through Boston, Brookline, Newton, and Cambridge, and will be provided with entertainment and free snacks along the way. This year, an expected 43,000 participants will raise at least $3.4 million in pledges to help fund 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs across Massachusetts. Registration is from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. on Boston Common. For more information, call 617-723-5000 or visit www.projectbread.org.

Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) April 27, 2008 --

What:
Project Bread's historic 40th Walk for Hunger — the country's oldest continual pledge walk and the largest one-day fundraiser to alleviate local hunger. Since 1969, 912,000 Walkers have trod 18,298,800 miles to raise over $66 million to help hungry people. In this one day, The Walk for Hunger raises the baseline funding necessary to:

Provide grants to 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs in 126 communities throughout Massachusetts. Last year over $3.4 million was raised from every state in the U.S. as well as 20 countries, and 42.1 million meals for hungry people were served.

Who:
Typically 95,000 people are involved: 43,000 Walkers supported by more than 2,000 Volunteers along the route, receiving pledges from about 50,000 friends, family, and coworkers. Some Walkers who have participated since the beginning will join people who are participating in The Walk for Hunger for the first time! Some people are walking because they or their family members have recently needed help. Participants include multigenerational families, individuals, school groups, corporate groups, and religious communities from all across Massachusetts — activism at its best.

When:
Sunday, May 4, 2008, 7 A.M. – 7 P.M. RAIN OR SHINE

Crowd shots on the Boston Common are between 7 A.M. and 9 A.M. Peak Beauty Shot of masses is available between 9:00-9:30 A.M. (sunny day, slightly later rainy day) from the Mass. Ave. Overpass Bridge looking down Commonwealth Ave.
Peak crowd information, interesting Walker stories, and emergency food spokespeople available throughout the day by visiting the Media Tent on the Boston Common or by calling 617-239-2505.

Location:
Starts 7 A.M. to 9 A.M., Boston Common Parade Grounds (corner of Beacon and Charles Streets).

The 20-mile Walk route weaves through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge before returning to the Boston Common. Shuttle buses are available at all eight checkpoints. Entertainment stops along the route feature more than 20 local performers. Route map and street closings available on website, www.projectbread.org/roadmap or by calling 617-723-5000.

Why:
With food and fuel prices going up, many families are seeing their monthly incomes stretched beyond capacity. They are forced to go without food in order to pay their rent, gas, and medical bills. As the cost of living continues to rise, more and more families are turning to emergency food programs for help. Almost 450,000 Massachusetts residents are hungry. Even more alarming, food pantries reported that 33 percent of their clients are children. There are more than 45,000 Walkers and Volunteers participating in this year's Walk for Hunger.

For more information on Project Bread and The Walk for Hunger, visit www.projectbread.org.

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