By Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Despite a dreary forecast, dozens of volunteers and participants congregated at Temple Beth David in Westwood on Sunday for the annual Interfaith Mini Walk for Hunger.
“This is how you know it’s the 13th year,” joked co-chair Corrine Rizoli, alluding to the rain.
If you’ve been to a grocery store recently, you can understand the issue at hand. Inflation is up 8.2 percent this year alone, and more and more folks are struggling to put food on the table. That’s where organizations like Project Bread, local food pantries, and the organizers of the Interfaith Mini Walk for hunger come in.
“We’ve seen a real spike in need, particularly in senior citizens,” said Trish Tucke of the Westwood Food Pantry, who was in attendance for the walk and helped deliver opening remarks. To help illustrate this point, co-chair Dr. Jeff Greenwald had all the participants assign themselves a number from one to four, in repeating order. He then requested that everyone who was a number three stand off to the side. He asked the audience what was different about them. “They look like you and me, don’t they?”, he inquired. Of course, he couldn’t be more correct. One in four households in the United States have experienced food insecurity, a number that is on the rise.
According to statistics published by Project Bread at projectbread.org, the current rate of food insecurity in Massachusetts is 18.3 percent, with 26.2 percent of households that include children experiencing food insecurity as of August 2022. “Today we walk in solidarity with people who need food and sustenance,” said Rabbi Karen Citrin of Temple Beth David in her opening speech. “Each step makes a difference”.
Children in attendance were encouraged to make cards and care kits for people that are experiencing homelessness. The kits included things like toothbrushes, tissues, band-aids, granola bars, wipes and small towels.
This news correspondent was grateful and impressed by the incredibly kind and welcoming community that had gathered for the walk, especially since I had my children in tow; my five-year-old loved being involved with the care kits and, upon leaving, asked if we could go back again -- a great lesson that you’re never too young to get involved.
More information about the event, including an option to donate, can be found at www.projectbread.org/events/interfaith-mini-walk-for-hunger. Anyone experiencing food insecurity is encouraged to contact Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource hotline at (1-800-645-8333).
