VERONA, Va. (WHSV) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is expanding its annual School Food Drive to include schools in the Shenandoah Valley, including Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro. The drive, which runs from Mar. 3 to Mar. 21, aims to combat rising food insecurity throughout the region.
Livia Marrs, the food bank’s volunteer and food drive manager, says this is a pivotal year for the initiative.
“This is kind of the inaugural year of trying to branch out and get more students engaged, more people engaged in the work of the food bank,” Marrs said.
Since its start in 2011, the School Food Drive has collected more than 100,000 pounds of food, providing over 84,000 meals to families in need. What began as a student-led effort in Albemarle County has now grown into a multi-county initiative with participation from more than 20 schools last year. All food collected during the drive will be donated to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and its food pantry partners in the area.
During the three-week drive, students, families, and school staff will collect non-perishable food donations. The food bank’s Verona warehouse will sort the donations and distribute them to partner programs such as shelters, soup kitchens, and pantries across the area. The food bank encourages schools and individuals, including private, public, and parochial institutions, to sign up and participate.
Marrs said the food bank hopes to see more than 30 schools join the effort by the Feb. 21 registration deadline. Marrs said the expansion will help foster student awareness about food insecurity while empowering them to make a positive impact.
“It’s really important for students to engage with that and to be aware that there’s something that they can do to help combat food insecurity in their area,” said Marrs.
If your school, organization, or business would like to participate in the School Food Drive or learn more, please contact Livia Marrs at [email protected] by Friday, Feb. 21.
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