Walk for Hunger comes to Dartmouth

Despite a dreary, rainy forecast, more than a dozen people joined together to fight hunger at the Dartmouth YMCA.

The YMCA and its Sharing the Harvest Community Farm led a Walk for Hunger through Dartmouth on May 5. It was a smaller, local version of Project Bread’s annual fundraiser walk in Boston.

The intent, explained organizers Mary Strasser, Lisa Mellgard, and Sharing the Harvest Farm Director Ashley Brister, is to bring the Walk for Hunger mission from Boston to the local communities that can make an impact.

“We put together this virtual team to have a community walk for Project Bread funding,” Mellgard explained.

Sharing the Harvest is itself supported by funding from Project Bread, making the mission of the Boston-based nonprofit all the more important.

It is the first time the YMCA has hosted the event in Dartmouth, and started out small this year as a pilot test. So far, $730 has been raised out of a $1,000 goal, but fundraising will continue into October.

“Our goal was to keep it modest,” Brister said.

Despite the weather, the group set off for their five-mile hike from the farm and YMCA on Gulf Road to Round Hill Beach. Many of those in attendance were familiar with the nonprofit working farm, and the produce grown there every year which are then donated to those in need.

“Hunger is a big issue, and we can do something about it,” noted participant Judy Jenkins.

Donations are still being accepted online. Click here to donate.