HOLYOKE, Mass. - Dozens of people are marching from Springfield to Greenfield in an effort to raise money for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Now in its 15th year, the annual March for the Food Bank with Monte Belmonte has become a key fundraiser in the fight against food insecurity. Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, said this year’s goal is $500,000.

“It’s a fundraiser and awareness-raiser of the issue of food insecurity and hunger across Western Massachusetts,” Morehouse said. “This also helps the food bank carry out its mission to feed our neighbors in need and lead the community in hunger.”

When Belmonte, a local radio personality, began the event fifteen years ago, it was largely a solo effort as he pushed along a shopping cart to raise awareness and $13,000.

In the years since, it’s become quite the spectacle, with dozens of people joining him and hundreds more showing their support at various stops along the route.

“The cost of living has increased and people are having a hard time making ends meet and putting nutritious food on the table,” Morehouse said.

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA 2nd District) has also become a familiar face at the annual march, and speaking along the route in Holyoke, he said he feels the burn these days, but also feels the cause is more important than ever.

“On one hand, it feels good to be here, but I’m getting older and my legs aren’t as strong as they used to be,” McGovern said. “I’m determined to finish the full two days of this march. I’m here because I think it’s the place to be, especially in the aftermath of this election. I felt it was important for me, and I know others feel the same way, to do something good.”

McGovern said he’s preparing to continue advocating for legislation to help food-insecure families in the years ahead, and he’s focused on protecting existing nutrition programs and speaking out against possible efforts to do away with them.

“When Biden was president, I got him to do the second-ever White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health,” McGovern said. “Out of that conference came a roadmap of what we need to do in this country to end hunger and promote better nutrition standards. That’s our roadmap, and we’ve got to fight to try and implement as much of that as we can.”

The march will resume at 6 a.m. on Tuesday in Northampton, and the group is expected to reach the Greenfield Town Common at 6 p.m. to cross the finish line with a crowd cheering them on.