Step Up, Give Back: Newton Resident Christopher Duggan Joins Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger

NEWTON, Mass. – On May 3, Christopher Duggan, of Newton, will join thousands of walkers for Project Bread’s 58th Walk for Hunger. Participants will walk a 3-mile loop on the Boston Common or virtually in their own neighborhoods to raise funds that support children and families facing food insecurity across the Commonwealth. This year’s Walk is expected to raise over $1 million to fund Project Bread’s proven statewide programs to ensure access to nutritious food for all.

Now in its 58th year, The Walk for Hunger remains the organization’s flagship community event, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors in a celebration of compassion and action. The event kicks off Sunday, May 3 at 9 a.m. with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The route is fully accessible, and ASL interpreters and multilingual staff will be present to ensure everyone can participate.

“Every step we take at The Walk for Hunger is a step toward a future where no family has to worry about their next meal,” says Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “Our walkers and supporters are turning their compassion into action. Together, we’re not just walking—we’re building a stronger, more food-secure Massachusetts.”

Duggan, 64, a physician specializing in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, has been participating in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger since 2000. A longtime resident of the Boston suburbs, Duggan was first drawn to the Walk as a meaningful way to engage his family and help teach his 3 children the importance of giving back through community events. Over the years, his commitment has deepened through both his professional and volunteer work. As a physician at Boston Children’s Hospital and a nutrition researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, he has seen firsthand the profound impact food insecurity has on children’s health and development in the US as well as globally. Now a member of Project Bread’s Board, Duggan brings both personal passion and professional insight to the cause, recognizing the Walk as a critical driver of the organization’s mission. To date, he and his colleagues have raised approximately $10,000 in support of ending hunger across Massachusetts. This year, he will walk in person on Boston Common as part of the Boston Children’s Hospital Nutrition Team, joining colleagues in a shared effort to raise $5,000 and build awareness around food insecurity. For Duggan, the Walk remains a powerful combination of fundraising, physical activity, and community engagement in service of a preventable public health issue.

“Food insecurity is a completely preventable societal ill,” says Duggan. “Through my work, I’ve cared for many children whose health has been directly affected by inadequate nutrition. Events like The Walk for Hunger are essential—not only to raise funds, but to bring people together around a shared responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.”

Donate directly to Christopher Duggan's fundraiser at https://give.projectbread.org/fundraiser/7000701. 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 to 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. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.

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