Mary Walling of Hudson Marches in the Battle Against Hunger

Mary Walling, a resident of Hudson, has been an active participant in the Annual Walk for Hunger for over 55 years. After three years of virtual walks, Walk for Hunger is set to return to Boston in a live format. On May 7, Walling will be among more than 3,000 live and virtual participants walking a new three-mile loop around the Boston Common. The event aims to raise over $1 million to combat hunger in Massachusetts.

Walling played a crucial role in starting the first Walk for Hunger in 1969 as a parishioner at the Paulist Center in Boston, alongside Father Patrick Hughes and Father Floyd McManus. The young priests and their proactive group of parishioners were pioneers in assisting community members in need. They sparked various initiatives, including teaching English to Spanish-speaking individuals and setting up a supper club. The idea of a pledge walk to raise funds for local soup kitchens took shape, making it the first pledge walk in the United States and the oldest continuous one.

In subsequent years, Walling participated in the former 20-mile route, actively raising funds. This year, she aims to raise $11,674, adding to her accumulated amount of over $100,000 since 2019. In 2020, due to pandemic restrictions, the physical walk was canceled, but virtual participation was encouraged. Walling adapted by using the Hudson-Marlborough part of the rail trail for her walk.

Walk for Hunger holds immense importance for Walling, who works at Hudson Food Pantry and witnesses the food insecurity experienced by her community. She sees that despite the wealth in our nation, many people struggle to access food. Walling recalls a childhood incident when she shared her lunch with a friend who had none, prompting her mother to prepare two lunches in response. This experience and her work at the food pantry fuel her passion to combat hunger.

Walk for Hunger‘s primary goal has always been to alleviate hunger in Massachusetts, though Walling receives donations from across the country and at times, from abroad. Project Bread, the parent organization handling the administrative aspects of the walk, distributes the funds raised and educates young people about nutrition.

Hunger, according to Walling, extends beyond simply providing food; it also involves understanding the right foods to eat and ensuring families can afford them. The walk aims to raise funds to provide hunger relief for various groups, including families with young children, college students, the elderly, veterans, and disabled individuals.

Walling emphasizes the significance of the walk as a means to address food insecurity and make a real difference in the lives of those in need. The event not only raises funds but also educates and advocates for change. Alongside the walk, there will be entertainment, photo booths, face painting, and other family-friendly activities.

For Walling, participating in the Walk for Hunger has become a yearly commitment, something she does on the first Sunday of May without fail. She views the experience as overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the importance of fundraising to support the cause.

To learn more about the Walk for Hunger and Project Bread, visit their website. Individuals experiencing food insecurity can seek assistance by calling Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline at 1.800.645.8333 or visiting here.