Hike for Hunger raises more than $29K for Amherst Suvival Center

Dec. 2, 2021 | Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com

AMHERST – The second annual Hike for Hunger just wrapped up their month-long fundraising effort that supports the Amherst Survival Center in offering meals, supplies, and services to residents in need. This fundraiser encourages community members to meld their philanthropic efforts with exercise and fresh air.

The results are in, showing a grand total of $29,302 in fundraising during the month-long event.

“We were really thrilled with the participation and the outcome of this year’s second annual Hike-for-Hunger. We had 116 participants who hit the trails near and far and they collectively raised $22,552,” said Lev Ben-Ezra, executive director of the Survival Center. “We are blown away by everyone’s participation and are really grateful because this is providing really critical resources to continue to provide nutritious prepared meals and groceries to any of our neighbors that are struggling with food insecurity.”

That money raised combined with support from business sponsors gave the Amherst Survival Center their grand total.

Participants registered with a $25 donation and from there set their own hiking and fundraising goals with the help of family and friends.

“As an example. I’m hiking in October with a group of my friends and we’ve collectively decided that we are going to hike a million steps in honor of the more than 1.1 million meals the Amherst Survival Center prepared and distributed to the community,” Ben-Ezra explained last month.

Ben-Ezra did confirm she did reach her goal saying, “It was pretty awesome. It certainly includes extra long dog walks and other such things that may be loosely categorized as hikes, but we were able to do it.”

All the money raised will support the various programs offered by the Amherst Survival Center including its robust food programs as well as services for those experiencing homelessness such as lockers for storage, free laundry, private shower facilities and shelter from the elements.

The vast majority of the food is sourced through the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, without which Ben-Ezra said the Survival Center would not be able to operate. The organization fills a 20-foot box truck with food at least twice a week.

“The fundraising that we do for the Hike-for-Hunger is so essential because it helps to fund our core operations, so our everyday expenses that are necessary to make things go,” Ben-Ezra said on the money raised. “We are just so excited to see the participation this year. So many people stepped up and participated and donated.

Ben-Ezra urges interested parties in donating free meals or groceries whenever to the Survival Center. To learn more on how to volunteer or contribute to the center’s every day efforts, visit https://amherstsurvival.org or email volunteer@amherstsurvival.org. Monetary donations can be made at https://amherstsurvival.org/donate. If you would like to learn more, or would still like to donate directly to Hike-for-Hunger, you can still do so at https://amherstsurvival.org/hike-for-hunger. With any other questions or interests in working with the Survival Center, interested parties can email info@amherstsurvival.org

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