You have already read on this blog about the benefits of walking, but now you can add another reason to take those steps: raising awareness for an important issue in our region. The Thomas’ Walk Against Hunger will take place on Saturday, April 9th along Martin Luther King Drive outside of the Art Museum, and we want you to join thousands of your neighbors as we build a public witness against hunger!
Food insecurity affects as many as 1 in 4 people in Philadelphia alone, not including the outlying suburbs. The Thomas’ Walk Against Hunger provides a vehicle for more than 100 food pantries, soup kitchens, and anti-hunger agencies to raise much-needed funds for their programs. These organizations serve on the front lines in the fight against hunger, and often the money raised through this event makes up their yearly-operating budget. Last year alone, more than 500,000 people in our region turned to these emergency food providers at some point for assistance.
In addition to the walk itself, participants will be led in a warmup prior to the event and afterwards can join the post-walk festivities which include face painting for kids, live music, line dancing and light snacks.
It is free to register for the Thomas’ Walk Against Hunger, however we do encourage participants to donate or fundraise what they can. You can donate to an organization or you can create a personal fundraising page to support a local food pantry or soup kitchen. Visit www.hungerwalk.org for more information and to register.
This fun-filled day offers a great workout and great opportunity to help many of our neighbors in need. The walk itself covers 3.1 miles along Martin Luther King Drive and ends at the starting line on Eakins Oval.
When: April 9, 2016
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
8:00AM: Walk Check-In at Eakins Oval (across from the Art Museum)
8:30AM: Opening Festivities: Free breakfast, live entertainment, and welcome
9:00AM: Thomas Walk Against Hunger Kickoff
10:00AM-12:00PM: Post-Walk Celebration with free food and entertainment
Don’t take our word for it, though. Listen to Vernessa Wilson, a food pantry coordinator, to learn just how much of an impact you can make on the local community through the Thomas’ Walk Against Hunger!
