On April 28, 2019, the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia (ECF) partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and local faith organizations for the 35th Annual Hunger Walk Run. Episcopalians walked, ran, or volunteered for the Diocese of Atlanta, with 26 teams formed in support of ECF. Prior to the 5K walk and run, more than 100 youth and adults attended a Eucharist service celebrated by The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright.
“We are proud of the commitment that the parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta have consistently shown towards ending hunger,” said Lindsey Hardegree, Executive Director for the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia. “There are 23.2% of Georgia children who live in food insecure households. That’s one in four children! We are honored to grant funds this year to efforts which are working directly to combat childhood hunger.”
The 2019 Hunger Walk Run was an incredible event, and through the immense fundraising efforts of parishes around the Diocese, ECF has received more than $24,000 to support local hunger-related ministries and organizations. ECF is dedicated to funding opportunities for Episcopal parishes to work with their local community and nonprofits to serve the poor and oppressed.
With that in mind, ECF has provided grants to the following outreach ministries:
• Action Ministries, who partners with Church of the Good Shepherd (Covington), has received a grant of $12,000 to support the expansion of their SuperPack program which provides weekend food for hungry children.
• St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta) has received a grant of $15,000 towards renovating the kitchen space of its Malachi’s Storehouse food ministry.
This year, Bishop Wright issued a challenge for the Bishop’s Cup – the parish that raised the most funds for the Hunger Walk Run would receive the coveted award trophy as well as a gift of $3,500 to be used for the parish’s outreach ministries. Defending their title from 2018, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta) prevailed by raising a whopping $18,595 winning the Bishop’s Cup for the second time! St. Bartholomew’s came in second place with $6,685. Special recognition goes to the following parishes who each raised more than $1,000 to fight hunger in our Diocese: St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church (Smyrna), The Church of Our Saviour (Atlanta), St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (Marietta), Christ Episcopal Church (Norcross), and St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church (Stone Mountain).
This year’s parish fundraising efforts were truly incredible! Special thanks to the following individuals who each raised more than $500 and were a part of the Hunger Walk Run Champions Circle:
• Shirley Lee, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Sophie Hylton, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Michael Blakley, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Richard Wood, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Connie Bergeron, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (Marietta)
• Jennifer Boutte, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Belinda McIntosh, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Carla Scruggs, Christ Episcopal Church (Norcross)
• Cynthia Allen-Peterson, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Heather Dickenson, St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church (Stone Mountain)
• Guy Douyon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Beverly Lloyd, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Clover Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Josephine Reed-Taylor, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Veronica Ridenhour, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church (Morrow)
• Karen Douyon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
• Benita Nobles, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta)
Please save the date for next year’s Hunger Walk Run on March 15, 2020. For more information about the Hunger Walk Run, including how you can create a team to support the event in 2020, please contact Lindsey Hardegree at 404.601.5362 or LHardegree@episcopalatlanta.org.
About Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia Founded in 1982 as the Episcopal Charities Foundation, the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia (ECF) provides funding, leadership and resources to enable Episcopal parishes and nonprofit partners to lift up people facing poverty and oppression and to achieve significant, long-lasting impact in the Diocese of Atlanta. Since its inception, ECF has donated more than $4.4 million to promote thriving and spiritually strong individuals, families, and communities locally. Learn more at www.ECFimpact.org.
About The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
The Diocese of Atlanta was created in 1907 and serves the cities, towns, and communities in Middle and North Georgia. Led by the Right Rev. Robert C. Wright, it is comprised of 114 welcoming worship communities. Our purpose is to challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually. Learn more atwww.episcopalatlanta.org.
