High schoolers help fight food insecurity through annual School Food Drive

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s School Food Drive is in full swing, and the next generation is helping lead the way.

Lily Stendig, a junior at Albemarle High School, and Sofia Smith, a junior at Tandem Friends School, are coordinating this year’s annual drive.

With 31 schools across central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley collecting donations to fight food insecurity, it’s not easy work for these students.

But, despite their busy schedules, Lily and Sofia are making it happen.

“However busy I am, and however many things I have going on, I can always make the time to send one email and make a difference, and I think that’s just a way to live life,” Smith said.

The drive began on March 3 and wraps up on March 21. If you would like to learn more about getting involved, you can do so here.

“For the amount of good that comes out of it, it’s such a small amount of effort, like you put in so little to get out so much,” Stendig said. “The fact that it has such an impact, it feels silly not to do it.”

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