HATFIELD — The 13th annual two-day Monte’s March netted nearly $495,000 to help The Food Bank of Massachusetts provide food for those in need throughout the Valley.
The 43-mile march, which took place Nov. 21-22, is led by Monte Belmonte, radio personality at WRSI 93.9-The River. The $494,742 raised at this year’s event will help provide nearly 2 million meals to neighbors in need across western Massachusetts.
“People rose to the challenge to make nearly 2 million meals happen by raising over $492,000 for The Food Bank of Western Mass.,” Belmonte said. “I’m extremely grateful and humbled by the generosity of this community.”
Belmonte pushed an empty shopping cart, as a metaphor for hunger, from Springfield to Greenfield while broadcasting live on WRSI, to raise awareness about food insecurity and invited listeners to donate funds to provide emergency food assistance across western Massachusetts.
The march kicked off at Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services in Springfield, a member of the region’s emergency food network that provides healthy groceries through its food pantry and hosts a biweekly Mobile Food Bank site. Andrew Moorehouse, executive director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, presented Patricia Bernard, MLK’s vice president of finance and operations, with a plaque honoring the late Ronn Johnson for his passion and work to end food insecurity in Springfield.
“Folks are really struggling, so the role of the Food Bank is to provide healthy food to 164 food pantries and meal sites across all four counties,” said Morehouse.
“This is the richest country in the world. There are nearly 40 million Americans that don’t know where their next meal is going to come,” Congressman Jim McGovern said. “We all can do something to end hunger. And Monte and this crew are doing something today.”
Congressman Richard Neal and state Sen. Jo Comerford offered their encouragement for Monte’s marchers as they began their 17-mile trek to Northampton for the first day of the event. Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia welcomed the marchers at Gateway City Arts and Chicopee Mayor John Vieau welcomed the marchers to his city, where The Food Bank will build its future food distribution center and headquarters.
Along the way, the group, including Rep. Pat Duffy, also stopped at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee and Kate’s Kitchen in Holyoke, both partners with The Food Bank. Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle spoke with Belmonte as the march entered her city.
The second day of the march began in front of McGovern’s Northampton district office. Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra joined the march in Northampton, and state Reps. Lindsay Sabadosa and Paul Mark joined dozens of marchers for 26 miles through Hampshire and Franklin counties. Stops included the Amherst Survival Center and later, the Berkshire Brewing Company. Belmonte thanked Atlas Farm, the largest donor of fresh produce to The Food Bank, before concluding in Greenfield. Hawks & Reed hosted the marchers for a pay-what-you-can Finish Line Feast for the community.
There is still time for people to donate to help The Food Bank reach its $500,000 goal this year. Donations can be made online at montesmarch.com.