40,000 walk for hunger, raising $3.8m
People of virtually every size, age, creed, and ethnic background yesterday walked as a single stream through Boston's gray streets, in the aid of Massachusetts residents who do not have enough to eat.
More than 40,000 people braved rainy, chilly weather to raise $3.8 million for Project Bread's 40th annual Walk for Hunger, weaving a 20-mile route through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge.
Although there were about 3,000 fewer walkers than last year, when the event was graced with good weather, this year's walkers raised about $500,000 more.
The strong turnout was heartening for the more than 400 local agencies that benefit from money raised by the walk, especially at a time when demand and food prices are rising. Julie LaFontaine, executive director of the Open Door/Cape Ann Food
"We're certainly seeing people who were on the donor side before, maybe through a canned food drive or something, standing in line themselves," said LaFontaine. "The miles that people walk and the pledges help fill the shelves of pantries across the state and certainly in Cape Ann, at a time when more people are turning to us for help."
"People need more money to buy the same amount of food. What we're looking at now is maintaining the amount of food people ate last year, when food costs 7 percent more," said Ellen Parker, Project Bread's executive director.
According to a 2005 report by the US Department of Agriculture, about 7.8 percent of the state's 2.4 million households are "food insecure" - meaning that they cannot afford to eat balanced meals, frequently worry about food running out before they have enough money to buy more, or skip meals to make what little food they have last longer. Project Bread estimates that amounts to nearly 450,000 Massachusetts residents.
Yesterday, overcast skies dispensed a downpour for the first hours of the walk before the rain turned into drizzle, mist, and general dampness. Added to the usual Walk for Hunger uniform of sneakers and T-shirts were umbrellas, ponchos, hiking boots, galoshes, and rain jackets. Those who came unprepared were forced to make do with what they could buy along the route.
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Martine Francois, who works as a program specialist and mentor coordinator for the program, grabbed a box of garbage bags and improvised. She recommended lawn and garden bags for optimum wetness defense. Francois, 23, who started participating in the Walk for Hunger in seventh grade, was adamant about not letting the rain affect her conviction.
First-aid workers in tents along the route said the most common injury was blisters, treated with giant rolls of adhesive moleskin and petroleum jelly.
"What we're not seeing is heat stroke, which is hugely important with a walk of this size and magnitude," said Baruch Stone, a volunteer who was coordinating a first-aid station outside the walk checkpoint at Eliot Church in Newton. "We're very happy for only blisters."
Like many other walk participants, Ruby Guerrero, 32, of Lowell had already raised most of her money through advance donations, and did not need to walk the route to gather per-mile pledges. But, draped in a bright-orange poncho and having recently accessorized with a knee brace, Guerrero was determined to do it anyway.
"It really feels like you have to be a part of it," said Guerrero soon after passing the first checkpoint.
Sherri Swindle of Middleborough said she walked through pouring rain for the first 6 miles but persevered to cross the finish line on Boston Common, greeted by a team of cheerleaders. Her husband, Mark, who brought their children to meet her at the end, said she and fellow walker Laurie Rantz would not let the weather stop them.
"It's such an important thing to do, when there's so many people who are starving in Boston," said Mark Swindle.
Stephanie V. Siek can be reached via e-mail at ssiek@globe.com. 