Nearly a quarter of Philadelphia residents are at risk of food insecurity, half of whom are either children or the elderly.

That sobering statistic is one that will drive several-thousand people to the 20th Annual Thomas’ Walk Against Hunger next month, an effort that will have a direct impact on several hunger-relief organizations in the Riverwards.

The 3.1-mile walk along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, set for April 9, is organized by the Greater Coalition Against Hunger. In addition to raising awareness about the epidemic of food insecurity in the City of Brotherly Love, the event is also a unique fundraising opportunity for groups working to stem the tide of hunger.

Supporters are encouraged to create teams in honor of a hunger-relief nonprofit, food pantry or soup kitchen, and solicit pledges, which the Coalition will disperse directly to the named beneficiary.

“The walk started as a way to bring awareness to the issue of hunger and has also evolved into a fundraising vehicle for a lot of small organizations,” said Coalition communications manager Tom Mahon. “For a lot of these programs, this serves as the only way for them to get funds throughout the year. If you’re a small food pantry at a church in Grey’s Ferry and you raise $1,000 that could be your entire yearly operating budget.”

Last year’s walk brought in $258,000 altogether for the beneficiaries, Mahon noted, which was its most successful yet. He said the Coalition aims for that number to even higher this year.

There are currently about 80 providers who will benefit from the walk and Mahon expects that number to grow to more than 100 by walk day.

Among the registered Riverwards groups walkers can support are Community Center at Visitation, Drueding Center, First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, NHS Fresh Start, The Simple Way and True Vine Baptist Church.

Larger organizations like Philabundance are also putting forth teams and helping get the word out about the event.

“This year, our staff will be walking in larger numbers,” said Philabundance Katherine Sprissler-Klein, deputy director of community engagement. “We’re putting the event out on all channels of social media and through our e- and print communications.”

Philabundance has four locations: the South Philly headquarters where most of the fresh food is packed, sorted and stored; a dry-good facility and offices at 302 W. Berks St. in Kensington; a community kitchen in North Philadelphia; and the nation’s first nonprofit grocery store in Chester.

Every dollar the food-rescue organization raises equates to two meals for Philadelphians, Sprissler-Klein said. This year, they aim to generate $10,000 through their participation in the Walk Against Hunger.

“We’ve done a little bit less in the past, but we’ve set new aggressive goals this year,” she said, noting the format of the event gives each organization the autonomy to coordinate its own fundraising efforts. “The Coalition provides the tools and then it’s up to us to engage our base.”

On the event’s website, each team has its own fundraising page to which they can direct supporters for donations.

But, support doesn’t have to be just monetary; participation is free, which Sprissler-Klein said encourages the inclusion of people who might not have the funds to donate.

“This is not like many other charity walks. What the Coalition does is tremendous because they have a sensitivity that not all folks can afford to fundraise but still want to be there to show their support,” she said. “Clients or volunteers may not have the capacity to fundraise so instead they’re able to walk. Regardless of capacity, you can support the effort by being there, by donating or by asking friends and family to donate. It’s great that the event offers multiple ways to get involved.”

The collaboration the walk promotes among the local hunger-relief organizations, Sprissler-Klein added, can be key in the city’s fight against food insecurity.

“This event is about all sorts of groups working together, which is what we need. This is such an important way to give back to the organizations in our area, and we’re delighted to be a part of it,” she said.

Check-in for the Walk Against Hunger kicks off at 8AM April 9 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. The walk sets off at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.hungerwalk.org. For more information about Philabundance, visit www.philabundance.org.