Holly White Continues to Support The Walk for Hunger While in China

Holly White of Autoparts International in Norton will be out of the country during this year’s Walk for Hunger, but she has still managed to raise nearly $7,400 as a Virtual Walker.

Virtual Walkers are those who will be busy on May 6 — because it’s a family member’s birthday or because they will be out of the state – but continue to support The Walk for Hunger even though they cannot physically attend the event. The number of individuals choosing to be Virtual Walkers has grown considerably since the option was first made available in 2008. This year, there are already more than 130 Walkers registered as Virtual Walkers for reasons ranging from university finals to swim team meets.

“This year I will be unable to participate in the Walk as I will be returning from a ten-day trip to China the day of the Walk,” White said. “I am hoping you can still support this wonderful cause.”

White is proud to be a Heart & Sole Walker since her first Walk four years ago, meaning she has raised more than $500 each year.  Her total, not including the $7,400 she has already raised this year, is an amazing $25,337.

Since she started walking, White has been part of a team called “Putting the Brakes on Hunger,” which consists of staff and friends of Autopart International.  As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to support food pantries and emergency food services in the communities where they work and live, Autopart International will be participating in Project Bread's 2012 Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 6. The week before the Walk, Autopart International is also holding its fourth annual company-wide food drive.

In 2011, “Putting the Brakes on Hunger” raised $49,665.25 for the Walk for Hunger and proudly became one of the highest fundraising teams for the second year in a row — an amazing accomplishment for a team with less than 20 members! 

“Each member of our team wants to collect the most donations, so a lot of good natured teasing and support happens in the office during fundraising time,” White said. “Promises of coffee and gutter cleaning have been made in order to have the bragging rights of most donations.  It makes the fundraising fun and competitive.”

“We are grateful to Autopart International,” said Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread, “because the spirit of its employees translates directly into help for hungry families, but we are especially moved by those like Holly who do the virtual Walk when they cannot be in town because this shows their commitment to the cause goes beyond the fun of the day. She’s an important role model.”

To support White’s efforts to fundraise from abroad, visit http://www.projectbread.org/goto/holly_penguin or support the “Putting the Brakes on Hunger” team by visiting http://www.projectbread.org/goto/autopart.

About Project Bread
As the state’s leading anti-hunger organization, Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. Through The Walk for Hunger, the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, Project Bread provides millions of dollars each year in privately donated funds to support hunger relief through emergency programs, schools, summer food programs, community health centers, farmers’ markets, community suppers, home care organizations, and other programs that protect the individual and strengthen our community food security. The Walk’s flagship sponsor is Freihofer’s Baking Company; its participating sponsors include Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, and Raytheon Company. For more information, visit www.projectbread.org, www.facebook.com/projectbread, or www.twitter.com/walkforhunger.