Every spring at the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Hunger Walk Run, Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Atlanta compete for the Bishop’s Cup—an over-the-top trophy and a $3500 check for outreach for the parish team that raises the most money for fighting hunger.
On Sunday March 15, parishes competing in the 42nd Hunger Walk Run have their best chance in a decade to win the Bishop’s Cup. For the past eight years, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta has won the competition, with more than 100 team members raising a combined $150,000-plus in that span; before that, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta held the trophy for four years.
“St. Paul’s Atlanta is an absolute fundraising powerhouse,” said Dr. Lindsey E. Hardegree, Executive Director of the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia (ECF). St. Paul’s Atlanta is etched eight times on what she calls the “very large, obnoxious, and fun” trophy that another church will take home this year.
St. Paul’s Atlanta no longer competes for the Bishop’s Cup because their Hunger Walk Run funds — over $30,000 in 2026 — now directly support the St. Paul’s – Emmaus House Food Pantry which was launched in the fall of 2025 with a three-year grant from ECF.
The Hunger Walk Run is the largest fundraising event held annually by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which grew from the community kitchen at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to serve 29 counties, reaching 1 of every 8 people. ECF has been a benefitting partner of the event since 1985.
Last year’s Hunger Walk Run raised more than $983,000, and each year ECF distributes some of this money through hunger-related grants to organizations and ministries across the diocese. ECF grants expand the food bank’s reach.
“The Bishop’s Cup is a fun challenge for our event each year, but the real joy of the Hunger Walk Run is how our Episcopal community comes together to fight against hunger in the state of Georgia,” Hardegree added. “ In this time with increased uncertainty across the country around funding for hunger relief and technology changes decreasing corporate support for food banks, the collective impact of this event creates an opportunity for us to live out the Gospel command to love our neighbors in real-time. We are honored to celebrate 41 years of partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and we’re eagerly watching to see who will win this year’s Bishop’s Cup!”
Several parishes are taking tips and inspiration from St. Paul’s Atlanta as they vie for the Bishop’s Cup. Current challengers include Herding Cats, representing St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta, which appeared to easily exceed its $1500 fundraising goal.
A catchy team name is one tip from Dr. Belinda McIntosh, the 8-time Bishop’s Cup winning team captain for St. Paul’s Atlanta and an ECF Board member.
“Most of all, have fun at the Hunger Walk Run,” she advised. “It’s a really fun event. If you’re genuinely excited about it, that will be contagious, and people will want to be a part of this. People love to feel like they’re part of something greater, and the whole diocese benefits from our participation in hunger relief.”
Meet the following teams from four competing parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Each has raised at least $1,000 before the Hunger Walk Run (check their current status).
Walk with the Saints of Middle Georgia! (representing All Saints Episcopal Church, Warner Robins)
“The Bishop’s Cup is definitely a motivator for our team,” said Stephanie Johnson, team captain for the fourth year and a former ECF board member. “It’s a symbol of our collective efforts and All Saints’ deep commitment to outreach, with a strong focus on community engagement. We’re always looking for new ways to serve and connect with our neighbors, and every participant in our team plays a vital role in that mission.”
Johnson and other team members draw fundraising and fellowship inspiration from St. Paul’s Atlanta, their sister parish.
When the Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) at All Saints Warner Robins faced challenges to meeting during the covid pandemic, Johnson reached out to St Paul’s member and DOK chapter leader Beverly Parks Lloyd for assistance.
“Her willingness to support our chapter, Mary’s Heart and Martha’s Hands, by facilitating Zoom meetings was invaluable and greatly aided us through those challenging moments,” Johnson said.
“The Bishop’s Cup serves as a poignant reminder for us all—to treat others with kindness and love. Although St. Paul’s is not competing for the Bishop’s Cup this year, their example of service and commitment to community remains a guiding light for us at All Saints.”
The Hunger Walk Run is an opportunity to live out the diocesan mission to challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually.
For the Walk with the Saints team, the Hunger Walk Run is a fellowship opportunity too. “We cherish the time spent walking together and sharing a meal afterward,” Johnson added.
Donate to Walk with the Saints of Middle Georgia! here.
Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church, Clarkesville
High school senior Maya Ballard inspired her parish to participate in the Hunger Walk Run after not fielding a team for a while.
Maya is a member of the Diocesan Youth Commission, which is hosting a coffee hour and student-led worship service before the Hunger Walk Run (RSVP encouraged) at the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing with Atlanta Bishop Rob Wright. (A shuttle will operate between the Absalom Jones Center and The Home Depot Backyard, where the Hunger Walk Run is staged.)
“Grace-Calvary does a significant amount of outreach, but the needs in our community only seem to grow,” said The Rev. Michelle Fritch, team captain and priest-in-charge. “I’m not usually very competitive but seeing that Grace-Calvary was in the top teams has absolutely motivated us to do more to win the Bishop’s Cup! We even have donors from Florida supporting our team!”
Donate to Grace-Calvary’s team here.
St. Aidan’s Hunger Warriors (St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Milton)
“The Bishop’s Cup is a great motivator for our team,” said team captain Megan McPherson. “The friendly competition between churches brings extra energy and excitement to our fundraising efforts, and it encourages everyone to go the extra mile while supporting a cause we care deeply about.”
St. Aidan’s has fielded a Hunger Walk Run team every year since 2014 and neared its 2026 fundraising goal of $1500 this week. The team had a successful strategy of “expanding our outreach and encouraging more community involvement,” McPherson said.
“Outreach is a central part of life at St. Aidan’s,” she added. “Our team reflects the spirit of our parish community—people who are deeply committed to serving others and supporting the mission of The Episcopal Church both locally and beyond. The enthusiasm and encouragement from our parish continue to inspire our team to give and do more each year. We will WALK by faith!” Donate to St. Aidan’s team here.
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Covington
Partway to an ambitious goal to raise $3000, Good Shepherd will walk in solidarity with friends from the Giving Hands Food Pantry. Their team captain is Megan Hulgan, member of Good Shepherd and chair of the ECF Board of Directors.
“We would love to use the Bishop’s Cup grant to continue supporting organizations we’ve partnered with for years and begin supporting the organization Family Promise of NewRock,” the Good Shepherd outreach committee said. “Family Promise’s mission is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response in Newton County and Rockdale County.”
An hour before the main Hunger Walk Run takes place at The Home Depot Backyard in Atlanta, the Good Shepherd team will walk on the paved, flat Cricket Frog Trail, which they help keep clean. Good Shepherd’s history of giving back to the community “is a cornerstone of our faith and part of our obligation to live out Jesus’ commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Hunger Walk Run is an example of Good Shepherd’s commitment “to partner with others to serve Christ next door, in Newton County, and in the world.”
A virtual team like Good Shepherd “competes for the Bishop’s Cup from the comfort of their own zip code,” said Hardegree. “Virtual teams are a fun way for us to engage everybody in the diocese, not just the folks who are super close to Atlanta or who are planning on driving in on the day of the Hunger Walk Run.”
Fundraising for the Hunger Walk Run will continue through March 31, 2026. For more information about how to contribute to this effort or get your parish involved, contact Lindsey Hardegree at ECF@episcopalatlanta.org. Find event photos from virtual and in-person participants online with the hashtag #HWR2026.