Charlottesville Students Unite for Annual Food Drive, Supporting Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

In Charlottesville, VA, the 14th annual School Food Drive is underway, running from March 3 to March 21. This year, over 30 schools and organizations are joining forces to support the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. For the first time, the drive will also include the Shenandoah Valley.

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Local students, Lily Stendig from Albemarle High School and Sofia Smith from Tandem Friends School, are taking the lead this year. Last year’s efforts resulted in over 5,000 meals for those in need, and this year, the goal is even higher. “We want to show how much young people can do when we come together,” Lily said.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, along with its 217 partner organizations, helps feed more than 68,000 people every month. Livia Marrs, who manages volunteers for the drive, highlighted the increased demand for assistance. “With rising costs for food and housing, the need in our community is more urgent than ever. This drive is crucial,” she shared.

Since launching in 2011, the School Food Drive has gathered over 101,000 pounds of food, which equals nearly 84,000 meals. Schools involved will have bins set up for non-perishable food donations. If you want to learn more about how to help, check out the details at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Here’s a list of schools participating in the 2025 Drive: