Thousands of walkers are expected at the Mall of America on Thanksgiving morning for the second annual Walk to End Hunger.

The goal is to raise awareness and donations to end hunger in the nine-county Twin Cities metro region.

A food drive and a phone-a-thon also will be held during the event.

Organizers hope to raise $250,000 including $25,000 from the phone-a-thon; collect 2,500 bags of food; and attract 4,000 walkers.

Twin Cities Hunger Initiative is sponsoring the event. Fourteen hunger-relief agencies are collaborating on the initiative, aimed at ending hunger in the Twin Cities by 2013.

The walk kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and goes until 10 a.m.