What is the Hike to End Hunger?
For nearly a decade, the Hike to End Hunger was Hunger Free Colorado’s signature event, inviting participants across Colorado to hike in solidarity to spread awareness about hunger in our state while raising funds to ensure every Coloradan has access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food. As planning began for the 2025 event, the Hunger Free Colorado Team recognized a new and urgent need to unify communities and stand in bold solidarity with our neighbors and those experiencing hunger. This led to a deeper partnership with the Denver Inner City Parish to co-host a different version of the event named the Westside Walk to End Hunger. Together, we collaborated on a vision to unite people, uplift our neighbors, honor the roots of the La Alma Park neighborhood, and move forward in building collective strength against the injustices of hunger and mounting systemic inequities.
The 2025 Westside Walk to End Hunger success!
The Westside Walk to End Hunger united more than 150 community members on a journey and celebration in the historic La Alma neighborhood. We intentionally planned a route through Denver’s westside La Alma neighborhood, crossing Colfax Avenue and winding through the Auraria Higher education campus, highlighting the “Displaced but not Erased” mural on the South Chiller Building. This artistic tribute honors the Aurarians who were displaced in the 1970s so that the Auraria Campus could be built. Walkers strolled down the 9th Avenue Park, which is lined by restored homes from the original Auraria community, and stopped inside St. Cajetan’s Church, a landmark from the former neighborhood.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s event!
Inside St. Cajetan’s, speakers from Denver Inner City Parish and Hunger Free Colorado discussed our collective efforts to address hunger and work together in building and advocating for community-based solutions. Virginia Castro, a leading advocate and member of the Auraria Historical Advocacy Council, as well as Nicholas Marquez, a displaced Aurarian and Senior Community Organizer at Hunger Free Colorado, shared their stories, highlighting the intersections of historic displacement, gentrification, erasure of marginalized communities, and hunger.
The walk culminated in a lively celebration at La Alma Park, complete with the music of Donnie Lucero, healthy food, a multitude of local vendors, free Little Man ice cream, a wide range of generously donated prizes, and authentic Aztec dancers. Throughout the event, we honored and celebrated the rich cultural legacy of Denver’s Westside—a community shaped by love and resilience through the leadership of its organizers, youth, and elders.
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors
Join us as we work to end hunger in Colorado.
Partner with Us
Donate to Support this Work