Hunger Walk reaches 40 year mark

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz spoke with Geshe Kalsang Rapgyal, executive director of the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion, before the press conference at Waterfront Park Aug. 23 to announce the 40th Hunger Walk. (Record Photo by Ruby Thomas)
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz spoke with Geshe Kalsang Rapgyal, executive director of the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion, before the press conference at Waterfront Park Aug. 23 to announce the 40th Hunger Walk. (Record Photo by Ruby Thomas)

By Ruby Thomas, Record Staff Writer
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz joined a group of faith leaders, Aug. 23 to call on the community to support Dare to Care Food Bank’s 40th annual Hunger Walk — renamed the Hunger Walk/Run & Row.

This year’s walk, set for Oct. 1, will be a bit different. Dare to Care has merged the event with the World Championship Voyageur Canoe Race — a series of five races on the Ohio River.

Archbishop Kurtz said during the press conference that in the 10 years he’s been archbishop it has been “an honor” to support the walk. And he extended an invitation to all Catholic parishes in the city to support the event.

“In a special way I want to thank everybody who joins in seeking to give dignity to every human being, to every family,” said Archbishop Kurtz. “Hunger is something that has no place in our society and in our city and our efforts to reach out are essential for the work that we do in building a just and good society.”

Stan Siegwald, director of strategic initiatives for Dare to Care, said the Hunger Walk is a “meaningful event” for Dare to Care and the community for two reasons.

Firstly, he said, is the event’s long history and the fact that it brings together all the faith communities just the way it did when the event was started 40 years ago. “It is so uplifting to see how much support and commitment everyone has to make sure the community has enough food to be healthy,” said Siegwald.

Secondly, he said, the “need for food assistance remains at an incredible level.” One in six people in the community suffers from hunger. The Hunger Walk is the food bank’s largest fundraiser, he noted. “It will allow us to put 300,000 plus meals into the community. We really need that support to make sure we’re doing what we need to do,” he said.

Dare to Care distributed more than 21 million pounds of food — including 6.9 million pounds of fresh produce — to 134,000 needy individuals in Kentucky and Indiana during the 2016 fiscal year, according to a statement from the organization.

Dare to Care’s Community Kitchen also prepared and delivered more than 263,000 hot meals to Kids Cafe sites in Kentucky and Indiana during that year. The Kids Cafes provide meals and enrichment activities to children at risk of hunger, said the statement.

Other programs include the “Backpack Buddy” program that provides weekend nutrition to more than 2,400 children in 38 schools. Dare to Care also operates mobile pantries each month to reach needy individuals who cannot get to a food distribution site.

Last year, the Hunger Walk drew a crowd of more than 2,000 and raised more than $100,000. Organizers said they are expecting a similar success this year.

This year’s Hunger Walk/Run & Row will take place Oct. 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Park’s Harbor Lawn, 231 Witherspoon St. It will include a kids zone by KaZoing! with inflatables, music, free food and refreshments.
The canoe race will begin at 12:30 p.m. with the 5K walk or run beginning at 2:15 p.m.

The registration fee to run or walk is $25 for adults and $15 for children 18 and under. Those who register, create a team and raise $1,000, will qualify to take part in the canoe race. Individuals can also sponsor a canoe team for $2,500. To register to run or walk, visit www.hungerwalkrunrow.org.

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