On May 4, seventh grader Srikanth Akkineni of Acton will step up for Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger. He will be among over 3,500 participants, both in-person and virtual, to walk the three-mile loop around the Boston Common or in their own neighborhoods. The one-day community event is expected to raise more than $1 million to support the leading statewide food security organization’s approach to ensure food access for all children and families in Massachusetts.
The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, brings together a diverse community dedicated to ensuring food security across the Commonwealth. The celebration is set for Sunday, May 4 at 9 a.m. and will feature family-friendly activities, food and entertainment. This year’s walk will follow an accessible route on fully paved sidewalks, allowing people with mobility devices, young children, and those with other needs to participate. American Sign Language interpreters and multilingual staff will be present throughout the event.
“It is becoming more and more difficult for people to afford enough to eat,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “One in five families with kids are worried about where their next meal will come from. The Walk for Hunger is our opportunity to make an immediate difference in the lives of thousands of our neighbors.”
On May 4, Akkineni will lace up for the Walk with a team of family and friends from his neighborhood to spread awareness for hunger relief. At 12 years old, he is making strides to help others through participating in the annual community fundraiser and donating proceeds from his recently launched lifestyle brand Joombi (Instagram: @joombiofficial). Focused on eco-friendly living, expressive clothes, and supporting causes, his brand gives 100% of proceeds to charities such as Project Bread. All clothes are made locally in Massachusetts, and Akkineni is looking forward to expanding his brand to include sleepwear and socks.
Akkineni’s parents, Sarath and Sandhya, introduced him to The Walk for Hunger when he was four years old, and he aspires to one day become a doctor and help his community stay healthy. Akkineni’s parents have matched his initial $2,500 contribution to Project Bread. With a Walk for Hunger fundraising goal of $2,500 again, he and his team are working to ensure all Massachusetts residents are food secure.
“Joombi is a way to help heal the world,” says Akkineni. “I am passionate about reducing food waste and have secured several thousand petition signatures from thoughtful Massachusetts residents in the hopes of influencing future legislation. Project Bread’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion—focusing on systemic change—is what excites me to partner with them in giving back. Community support and empathy are important to help those in need. I want to build that movement and message through Joombi and Project Bread. I’m looking forward to spreading awareness for Project Bread and sharing the day with friends and family. It’s a necessity that kids and families get food, and I have learned that it is possible to make a change, no matter how old you are.”
To register as a participant for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, or to support a walker or team with a donation, visit the Walk for Hunger Website or the specific webpage for Akkineni’s Project Bread fundraiser. People experiencing food insecurity can 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 to apply for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as “food stamps”). Project Bread’s Get Help webpage summarizes information and provides contact information for many food resources, including SNAP, School Meals, Summer Eats, WIC (for pregnant women, infants, and children under 5), Food Pantries, and Meals on Wheels (for seniors).