On Sunday, March 21, Nick Valentino will lace up his running shoes and once again join grandfather Dick Valentino in the 20th annual Hunger Walk at Turner Field.

This year marks the fourth year the Valentinos will work together to raise funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society through the yearly walk/run.

Dick, a Vincentian for 13 years and former conference president, is active with several of the Society’s outreach efforts. His work with the organization was so positive and fulfilling, he felt it important to introduce his experiences to his grandson.

“I really like that he brought me into it,” said Nick, a sophomore at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell. “Now, I don’t take things for granted and I realize that I have a responsibility to help those who don’t have the necessities. It is a whole new perspective.”

The annual Hunger Walk, presented by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, provides an outlet for several local organizations to raise funds for hunger relief. The income raised by the St. Vincent de Paul Society will help sustain the organization’s food pantry program, as well as support other hunger relief programs and soup kitchens throughout north Georgia. The 5K walk/10K run begins at Turner Field and winds through the city. Registration begins at noon.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting members of our community during times of need. The organization offers a variety of services and programs in the form of financial aid, temporary housing, education and training and good works. More than 90 percent of the Society’s revenue goes directly to helping those with financial hardships.

For more information about the Hunger Walk, call (770) 576-4083 or send an e-mail to fcraft@svdpatl.org.