Good Friday Great Food Walk
The 34th annual Nashoba GFW ("Great Food Walk") to defeat hunger will be held Good Friday, March 25. Money raised benefits two important charities: Loaves & Fishes, the largest food pantry in North Central MA and Sharing, Inc., which helps impoverished youth in rural South. Participate as a walker, a volunteer, or a sponsor.
GFW leaves Harvard Congregational Church, 5 Still River RD. (Harvard Common), and follows a five-mile loop. Walkers can register any time between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Park along Common away from Harvard General Store. In this economic climate, Loaves & Fishes has seen a decrease in donations, while the number of families and individuals coming to the pantry remains stable. By sponsoring a walker or joining the Walk, you are putting healthy, nutritious food on clients' tables for a few meals each month. Goal for this year's Walk $25,000. Each $1 Loaves & Fishes receives buys five pounds of food!
GFW qualifies for community service time with 90 percent of money used to purchase food and personal care items for clients from Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley; 10 percent going to Sharing, Inc., an organization which helps the poor in the rural South, in honor of the founder of the Walk.
If you're walking, pick up a sponsor sheet at your local church or library, or download it at www.loavesfishespantry.org or www.gfwalk.org. Then gather as many pledges or contributions as possible. Walkers are asked to raise a minimum of $25 to participate.
On day of Walk, total sponsor sheet and bring it to Registration Desk at Harvard Congregational Church to receive a walker number and map. Walkers under age 18 need parent or guardian's signature on their sponsor sheet; walkers under 12 must have adult supervision.
No bicycles, roller blades, scooters or skateboards allowed, but children and dogs welcome. If you want to volunteer in the kitchen or at registration desk, contact Jeanie Colony(978-456-1239, jecolony@charter.net) or Becca Day-Newsham (978-456-8717, newsha@aol.com).
