Healthier Food for All: Closing the Affordability Gap ft. Denis McDonough & Julie Gehrki

Harvard Kennedy School
79 JFK St.
Cambridge
Fri., Oct. 2, 2026, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.



How has food become less affordable for so many American families, and what will it take to close the gap? Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America, and Julie Gehrki, President of the Walmart Foundation, will discuss what they are seeing on the ground as food insecurity and affordability pressures continue to strain communities across the country.

McDonough leads the nation's largest hunger relief organization, working with a nationwide network of food banks to meet immediate need while advocating for longer term solutions; Gehrki oversees the Walmart Foundation's investments in food access and affordability, including its Healthier Food for All initiative. In this fireside chat, they will explore how affordability pressures are showing up in communities, what approaches are proving effective, and what it will take from the private sector, nonprofits and philanthropy to make progress.

*Please register with a valid Harvard email address

Gazette Classification: Environmental Sciences, Special Events, Sustainability
Organization/Sponsor: Global Food Systems ProgramInstitute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School
Speaker(s): Denis McDonough , CEO, Feeding America; Former White House Chief of Staff, Julie Gehrki , President, WalMart Foundation, Sara Boettiger (Moderator), Senior Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
Cost: Free
Ticket Web Link: iop.harvard.edu…
Contact Info: [email protected]
Harvard Key Required: No
More info: iop.harvard.edu…