Area Residents Walk for Hunger

Area residents raised money for the Canton Food Bank during the third-annual Walk for Hunger Saturday. 

Several corporate and non-profit organizations sent teams to the event while others just came on their own but all donated their time and funds for the event. 

With the walk-day donations, vouchers from customers and company donations, more than $4,000 was raised, event organizer Nancy Habbal said. 

The number could climb slightly as the final tally comes in early next week she said. 

"It was a fantastic day," Habbal said. 

The event, sponsored by Focus on Canton, was the third time the walk has been held exclusively for the food bank. Prior to that the town participated in a national event, First selectman Richard Barlow told the crowd. 

Peg Pinton, who manages the food bank from the basement of Trinity Episcopal Church, said some 47 families have needed it assistance in recent weeks. 

"Your presence and concern is a gift to the food bank and I am grateful," she said. 

Walkers strolled to Collinsville, took a break at Collinsville Congregational Church and then made their way back to the community center, where the event started.