Oasis Social Ministry will hold its 13th Walk for Hunger next Saturday, and organizers are hoping for a bigger turnout than ever before to support a growing program.

“Hungry people could be your next-door neighbor, that child at the bus stop, the senior in line in front of you picking up their medication,” said Jo-Anne Roisen, executive director of Oasis Social Ministry. “We absolutely depend on the walk to keep the program going to provide those meals.”

Oasis, located on Williamsburg Avenue in Portsmouth, serves North Suffolk and western Chesapeake in addition to the entirety of Portsmouth, Roisen said.

It started at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, where parishioners decided to get together and start handing out sandwiches to the homeless who frequented the area around the church, said Roisen, who has worked there for 15 years.

Other churches soon joined in, and the ministry now has its own building and a thrift store. Last year, it had more than 6,000 visits per month from people seeking services.

Those people received more than 47,000 meals in the soup kitchen, about 207,000 meals through the pantry program, and about $284,000 worth of free clothing and household items.

About 84 seniors, as well as families of terminally ill children served by Edmarc Hospice for Children, received grocery deliveries. The number in the senior program now stands at 90.

A related program, Oasis Opportunity Center, helps with job and money management skills, work experience, obtaining needed documentation and identifications, finding housing and more.

The services are growing at a rapid clip, Roisen said. “The growth is just off the charts.”

Ministry employee Burgess Hodges said about half the people served by the organization are children or seniors. Roisen said many of the working-age people have jobs, sometimes multiple jobs, but are unable to make ends meet without the help of Oasis.

To support the growing services, the organization holds several fundraisers each year, but the walk is the biggest one. It helps raise money as well as bring attention to the organization’s mission, Hodges said.

“The more people walk, the more presence we have downtown,” Hodges said. “We try to be noticed.”

Roisen said the money will be used for continuing support, and she especially wants to see the senior program grow. It currently has a waiting list of 15 people.

“The waiting list would fill back up in no time” if it were emptied by moving those people into the program, Hodges said. “It’s a really important issue for the city.”

Those who wish to walk can collect money from sponsors and turn it in on April 18, the day of the event, which happens rain or shine. The walk begins at 9 a.m., but those turning in money should arrive early. The walk leaves from the 800 Williamsburg Ave. location.

Volunteers also are needed, Roisen said.

For more information, visit www.oasissocialministry.org.