For the past 13 years, the Walk Against Hunger has brought together thousands of individuals to raise money for food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-relief agencies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. With a record number of people seeking food assistance over the past year, this year’s event needs more support than ever.

The Walk Against Hunger & 5K Run is a fun and simple way to support these important hunger-relief programs when they’re needed most. This year, the event includes its first-ever 5K Run, which follows the same Walk route that starts and ends at the Art Museum. Walk registration is FREE, so participants are encouraged to fundraise or donate what they can. 5K Run Registration is $20 till April 8 ($30 event day).

“For many food pantries and soup kitchens in the region, the Walk is the primary way they raise money for their programs,” said Carey Morgan, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, which organizes the event. “Most food pantries and soup kitchens are run by volunteers, usually seniors. The Walk enables them to buy more food, equipment and other necessities to feed the growing number of people coming to them for help.”

According to the Food Research and Action Center, Southeastern Pennsylvania is now home to the 2nd hungriest Congressional district in the nation. And in 2009, more than 316,000 Philadelphia residents sought help from a food pantry, a number that has doubled over the past four years.

Local food pantries have struggled to keep up with the growing need. Last year, 48% of Philadelphia’s food pantries ran out of food and were forced to turn people away.

The Walk annually raises over $250,000 for more than 100 food pantries and soup kitchens in all five counties and South Jersey as well as such organizations as the Coalition Against Hunger, Philabundance, SHARE, The Food Trust and the Food Bank of South Jersey.

Stroehmann Bakeries is the new title sponsor for the Walk Against Hunger & 5K Run.

For more information, visit www.hungerwalk.org.