The real estate agent who has become known for his annual feat of fitness that raises funds for the Bellingham Food Bank has been recognized with a service award from Serve Washington, the state commission on volunteerism.
Ethan Hunger started Hunger vs. Hunger as a small fundraiser in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when local food banks were seeing an abrupt rise in clients. The need has only increased since then — Bellingham Food Bank, the busiest food bank in Washington, now serves nearly 5,000 households per week and distributes more than 3 million pounds of food annually.
Hunger decided to take on a fitness challenge to represent food insecurity: burning 10,000 (or more) calories in a single day.
Last year, he burned 12,165 calories in a day-long workout that included running a marathon, cycling more than 120 miles, attending a high-intensity interval training class and swimming 3 miles.
“I was in a position to burn as much food and calories as possible.” Hunger told Serve Washington. “A privileged resident like me can create the hardest day possible and still have no idea what it’s like to be food insecure, to not know where my next meal is coming from. When I burn all those calories and ruin my day, I’m able to bring it back to those in need.”
By partnering with numerous companies and holding community events in the lead-up to the workout itself, Hunger blew past his 2024 fundraising goal of $100,000 and was able to give $249,000 to Bellingham Food Bank.
Hunger, who released a 50-minute film about his 2024 effort, says his fundraising goal this year is $300,000. The 2025 event is scheduled for July 19.
Thanks to his contributions to fighting food insecurity and raising awareness in 2024, Serve Washington chose Hunger as one of 18 Washington State Volunteer Service Award recipients.
The other 2025 award recipient in the Northwest Region is the 350-member team of volunteers at Helping Hands Food Bank and Solutions Center, which serves six locations in Skagit County. The food bank distributed 1.9 million pounds of food in 2024, with 251,000 food bank visits recorded.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
