On Sunday, September 25, 2016, the John T. Nichols Middle School in Middleboro will host one of the area's most popular and important fundraiser events.

According to South Coast Today.com, the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and operators of the Sacred Heart Food Pantry, have been organizing and gearing up for the 5th annual Food Pantry 5-K Run/Walk for the past six months. “Taking the Fight Against Hunger to the Streets” is the tag line for the event and has deep meaning among the many volunteers that will be out in force to raise money to help struggling families from the towns of Middleboro, Lakeville, Rochester, and Carver.

Recently, Feeding America, which is a national organization for a network of food banks across the country, revealed that the numbers of hungry Americans has not been decreasing as one might expect in a recovering economy. According to Feeding America, "the number of poor families in the USA is lower than in previous years, but there is a difference between poor families and those that are insecure when it comes to food." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, "35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children. When it comes to hunger in America, 49,000,000 Americans are insecure and this includes some 17 million children."

Al Cronin, Director of Client Services, stated that “the 5-K is a significant source of revenue for the Sacred Heart Food Pantry and it is hoped, that with all the organizing and efforts made by so many, it will be a huge success. The first year saw 135 entrants followed by 250 the [second year] and around 400 the third year. Last year the numbers were off some, but that could be in part to the many choices people have in so many events throughout our area. They are all great causes, but it is hoped that runners and walkers, seeing the impact the food [pantry] has in the area, will rally support for this event.”

With additional reporting by Sal Lopez

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420