After 32 years, the Notre Dame Walk for World Hunger added a new twist on Saturday with an invitation to all parishioners to help raise funds in the annual walk around the block on which the church is located in New Hyde Park.
In previous years, the church at 45 Mayfair Road limited the walk to Notre Dame School students and other children in the parish prior to Easter each spring as part of a Lenten observance, according to Jeannine DiLeonardo, who has been a volunteer since the annual walk began.
“This year we opened it up for everyone,” DiLeonardo said.
DiLeonardo said the parish’s walk has raised $137,000 over the 32 years it has been held.
Adults with children, some in strollers, walked on Saturday along with teenagers from the parish Teens Club, students from Sacred Heart High School in Garden City and children doing volunteer work in preparation for confirmation.
The participants had obtained sponsors among family and friends to raise money based on how many laps they walked.
“It’s good. A lot of the young kids have come with their parents,” said Father Bill Slater, Notre Dame pastor. “It’s a lot of enthusiasm.”
The money raised by the church was to go to the Interfaith Nutritional Network in Hempstead, the parish food pantry and other agencies that provide food for the needy.
“We’ve donating money to a variety of charities,” said Kristen Aguilo, one of 25 volunteers from the parish at the event.
Volunteers at the event collected cards the walkers handed in to verify the number of laps they walked, handed out T-shirts to the walkers and gave the participants pretzels when they finished their walks.
Dignity Memorial, parent company of Stutzman Funeral Home in New Hyde Park, donated the T-shirts emblazoned with the name of the event.
The event was publicized through notices to students in the Notre Dame School, and items in the parish bulletin, Aguilo said. The New Hyde Park Knights of Columbus also publicized the event among its membership and contributed food to the parish food pantry.
As part of its mission to combat hunger, DiLeonardo said, the parish collects food at Sunday Masses monthly for the St. Vincent De Paul Society and for use in the parish pantry.
“The pantry is open to everyone, no questions asked,” she said.
DiLeonardo said Hurricane Sandy had raised parshioners’ consciousness last year to what they have and what others lack.
Elizabeth Pujdak, one of the other volunteers, said she came out on Saturday “to help for a good cause and help bring awareness.”
Many of those walking on Saturday are longtime veterans of the event.
“My family and I have been walking for 10 years. It’s a nice thing to do for the hungry,” said Ann Marie Capadanno.
Paul Cunningham, a graduate of Notre Dame, said he’s participated in the Walk for World Hunger as a volunteer or a walker since he was a child.
“It’s an easy way to help out. I’ve been doing this as long as I can remember,” he said.
