Forty-three miles later, Monte’s March is done for another year, but the impact it will have against food insecurity and hunger will be lasting — he raised more than $271,000 this year, bringing the total he has raised since 2010 to $1,154,000 for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
WRSI The River’s Christopher “Monte” Belmonte pushed a shopping cart alongside dozens of community supporters, political representatives and business leaders that accompanied him on this year’s march from Springfield to Greenfield to end hunger, despite rain, snow and cold conditions.
Belmonte said his goal this year was to make it to the million-dollar mark.
By the time marchers completed their route on Bank Row in Greenfield on Tuesday, they raised more than $271,000 to support the food bank, providing the equivalent of 813,000 meals. Last year, the event raised more than $258,000.
Belmonte marched those two days, urging listeners on the air to call in with donations to the food bank, while dressed in a costume as a pirate the first day and alien the seond.
On Tuesday, Belmonte and others stopped for lunch at the BridgeSide Grille in Sunderland, before heading up Routes 5 and 10 to Greenfield, with a reception waiting for them at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center.