Nearly 50 people raised more than $1,200 for Project Bread during Wareham's first Walk For Hunger on May 2, which coincided with the annual Walk for Hunger in Boston.

"While people are up in Boston walking 20 miles, we'll be here in Wareham, walking five miles," said The Rev. Lise Hildebrandt of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Project Bread provides funds to food pantries throughout the state. The local event was coordinated by the Church of the Good Shepherd, Community Baptist Church of Marion, and the Wareham Clergy Association.

The walk began at the Church of the Good Shepherd on High Street, followed Sandwich Road to Route 28, Depot Street, Minot Avenue and back.

The weather was ideal.

"It's perfect with the breeze," said Wareham resident Rhea Harkins. "It's still hot, but if we didn't have the breeze, it'd be unbearable."

Linda Jope, whose family attends the Community Baptist Church of Marion, echoed that sentiment. "It's a beautiful day for walking," she said. She was joined by her husband, Bob, and children Hannah, 11, and Elijah, 9.

Elijah had a few techniques for getting through the five miles. "I didn't actually walk the whole time. I did some riding," he said, while giving his father a pat on the back and explaining that he ran some, too.

The walk was also attended by Selectman Walter Cruz, who attends Community Baptist Church.

The Church of the Good Shepherd usually organizes a group to participate in the annual Walk for Hunger in Boston, but only a small number of people are able to make the trip, said Pat Probert, who helped coordinate the Wareham walk. Hildebrandt suggested that a local walk might attract more participants, and the event was more successful than anticipated.

"We were shooting for 20 [people]," Probert said. "We've outdone our expectations here."

Probert said the walk was a good way to give back to Project Bread, which provides funds for the the Church of the Good Shepherd soup kitchen and food pantry. "We're certainly blessed with Project Bread and the grant they give us."