Two East Boston organizations support statewide food security trough the Commonwealth Program
EAST BOSTON, Mass. – On May 3, two East Boston community organizations — Samuel Adams Elementary School and Eastie Farm — will step up for Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger, raising funds to support statewide food security through Project Bread’s Commonwealth Program. Participating organizations receive 60% of the funds they raise to support their own hunger relief programs, with the remaining 40% contributing to Project Bread’s broader statewide efforts to ensure access to nutritious food for all children and families.
Now in its 58th year, The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brings together a diverse community dedicated to ending hunger across Massachusetts. The event kicks off Sunday, May 3 at 9 a.m. on the Boston Common with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The 3-mile route is fully accessible, accommodating walkers with mobility devices, young children, and others with special needs. ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will also be on hand to ensure everyone can participate.
“Every annual Walk, every dollar raised moves us closer to a Massachusetts where no family has to wonder where they will get their next meal,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “Coming together as an anti-hunger community is at the heart of this effort. Samuel Adams Elementary School’s and Eastie Farm’s commitment to ending food insecurity, along with the dedication of walkers and supporters, makes Massachusetts healthier and stronger for all of us.”
Samuel Adams Elementary School serves students in grades K through 6 and their families in East Boston, with a high percentage of multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and families who benefit from additional economic and social support. Now in its second consecutive year as a Commonwealth team, the Adams Seadragons will field approximately 40 to 60 walkers — including staff, students, families, and community members — with a goal of raising $10,000. Funds will sustain Mr. Mike’s Food Pantry, launched with last year’s Walk proceeds, which provides groceries, essential household items, and culturally responsive food options to families.
“Participating in The Walk for Hunger is an extension of our commitment to our families,” says Joanna McKeigue Cruz, principal of Samuel Adams Elementary School. “It allows us to both raise critical funds and build awareness around food insecurity within our community. It is also an opportunity to bring together staff, students, and families around a shared purpose of supporting one another and ensuring that all members of our community have access to basic needs.”
Donate directly to the Adams School Commonwealth fundraiser at give.projectbread.org/seadragons.
Eastie Farm, a community-based nonprofit now in its sixth consecutive year as a Commonwealth participant, works toward climate justice, food security, and community resilience through urban agriculture, education, and the building of an equitable local food system. A team of 10 walkers will lace up with a goal of raising $2,000 to support its food, farming, and education programming. East Boston’s large immigrant population includes many residents who do not speak English or do not qualify for SNAP, making community-based food assistance especially critical.
“East Boston is an environmental justice community with a large immigrant population, and some residents do not speak English or do not qualify for SNAP, making food assistance even more difficult,” says Morgan Barlin, Food Program Manager at Eastie Farm. “We are a community-based organization that wants to be in the community on this day and every day to raise awareness and fundraise for food security across the state.”
Donate directly to Eastie Farm’s Commonwealth fundraiser at give.projectbread.org/eastiefarm.
Beginning in 1969 as the first pledge walk in the nation, money raised from The Walk for Hunger is critical to fund systemic change for hunger relief. Project Bread launched the joint-fundraising Commonwealth Program in 2019. In 2025, 51 nonprofits raised more than $200,000 to support their own programs for statewide food security.
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 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. For more information, visit www.projectbread.org.
About Samuel Adams Elementary School
Samuel Adams Elementary School believes every child deserves access to high-quality instruction, meaningful relationships, and the resources necessary to succeed. The school serves students in grades K through 6 in East Boston and is part of Boston Public Schools. For more information, visit www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/725.
About Eastie Farm
Eastie Farm was born in 2015 when a group of East Boston neighbors reclaimed a long-abandoned lot as a place to gather and grow food. The organization now operates three growing spaces, including the first geothermal greenhouse in the Boston region, and works to alleviate food insecurity through free food distributions and a CSA program. Visit eastiefarm.com to learn more.
