Congregants from across the Akron area gathered Sunday, May 4, for the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council’s Hunger Walk.

Walkers chose one- or two-mile courses that began in front of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, on Morewood Avenue in Fairlawn near Summit Mall, and followed a path that first headed east on West Market Street before turning back west toward the church.

Participants enjoyed a community meal following their completion of the walk.

Kathryn Strausser, Hailey Tucker, Riely Bechtel, Cooper Bechtel and Isaiah Tucker wait for the start of the the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk.
Kathryn Strausser, Hailey Tucker, Riely Bechtel, Cooper Bechtel and Isaiah Tucker wait for the start of the the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4, which they participated in with other members of The Bath Church, United Church of Christ. The walk was open to individuals and groups of any faith or no faith and raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
A participant in the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4 wears a "I'm Walking to Stop Hunger" button.
A participant in the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4 wears a “I’m Walking to Stop Hunger” button. The walk, which started at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron in Fairlawn and looped down and back along West Market Street in Fairlawn, raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Walkers gather for a group photo prior to the start of the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk
Walkers gather for a group photo prior to the start of the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4, which kicked off from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron on Morewood Road in Fairlawn. The walk raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Rob Miller from Richfield United Church of Christ pauses for a moment of prayer
Rob Miller from Richfield United Church of Christ pauses for a moment of prayer before setting off from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron during the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk May 4. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
A group of walkers from The Bath Church, United Church of Christ heads down the driveway of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron on Morewood Road in Fairlawn as they begin the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4.
A group of walkers from The Bath Church, United Church of Christ heads down the driveway of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron on Morewood Road in Fairlawn as they begin the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4. The walk was open to individuals and groups of any faith — or no faith — and raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Lew Monegan, a member of Richfeild United Church of Christ, walks in his first Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk.
Lew Monegan, a member of Richfeild United Church of Christ, walks in his first Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4. The walk raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Stacy, Isaiah and Jason Tucker (left to right) lead the group on the 1-mile walk to end hunger during the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk.
Stacy, Isaiah and Jason Tucker (left to right) lead the group on the 1-mile walk to end hunger during the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4. The walk raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Walkers who participated in the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4 get a bite to eat at a community dinner at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron in Fairlawn
Walkers who participated in the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4 get a bite to eat at a community dinner inside the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron in Fairlawn. The walk raised funds for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Nancy Williams, the hunger walk's organizer, gets some lunch after completing the 1-mile walk that was part of the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk.
Nancy Williams, the hunger walk’s organizer, gets some lunch after completing the 1-mile walk that was part of the 16th annual Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk on May 4. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.