𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙇.𝙄.𝙉.𝘾.𝙎. 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠-𝘼-𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 25 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨
LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, N.J. — Under brilliant spring sunshine and cool breezes sweeping across Wilson Park Lake, more than 1,100 Linden Public Schools students, teachers, staff members, and volunteers gathered Friday, May 8, for the annual L.I.N.C.S. Food Pantry Walk-A-Thon -- community tradition organizers say may have drawn the largest turnout in the event’s 25-plus year history.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., school groups streamed into Wilson Park entirely on foot, turning sidewalks and walking paths into moving waves of school spirit and service. Students circled the lake while music echoed through the park, volunteers handed out water, and teachers walked alongside their classes beneath cloudless blue skies.
The 2026 walk-a-thon was dedicated in memory of Stephen Hoptay Sr., a longtime L.I.N.C.S. volunteer who passed away in 2025 after years of service to the pantry and the Linden community.
His children, Stephen Hoptay Jr. and Stephanie Hoptay, joined Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins for a ribbon-cutting ceremony shortly after 9 a.m. to officially open the event before walkers filled the pathways surrounding the lake.
A large contingent from Soehl Middle School kicked off the walk, setting an energetic tone for the daylong fundraiser.
Schools Step Forward for Community Cause
Nearly every school in the district participated in the annual event supporting the L.I.N.C.S. Food Pantry, which serves approximately 200 to 240 families each month through food distribution and emergency assistance.
All schools, except for School No. 6 and School No. 1, walked directly to Wilson Park as part of the fundraiser. School No. 1 held its own walk around the school building in support of the initiative.
Leading up to the event, schools collected nonperishable food donations including canned goods, boxed meals, and pantry staples. District maintenance crews later transported the donations directly to the pantry.
“This is the largest one that we’ve had that I can remember,” said Jay Dertinger, a volunteer who has worked with the pantry for more than 20 years. “The schools really got behind us. The kids have a good time doing it, but they also understand they’re helping people.”
A Lesson Beyond the Classroom
For organizers, the walk-a-thon represents more than fundraising. It also serves as a lesson in empathy, civic engagement, and community responsibility.
Kathy Koziol, a 25-year member of the organization, said student participation continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of the event.
“This represents walking for the community,” Koziol said. “They’re standing up and helping fellow citizens who are in need. These are things we need to instill in kids, and this is a great platform to do it.”
Koziol said some students participating may personally understand the importance of pantry services.
“To get the kids involved is the best thing,” she said. “Some of them don’t realize how many people need help. Some of them are recipients themselves.”
Throughout the day, volunteers from Linden High School organizations helped distribute water and support participants while students continued circling the lake in waves.
By early afternoon, as the final groups completed their walks and the park slowly quieted, organizers reflected on what the event had become: a visible demonstration of a community working together to support its neighbors.
For a few hours at Wilson Park, thousands of footsteps carried one shared purpose — helping Linden families in need. #LPS_ShowUpAndROAR