The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is marking Hunger Action Month by encouraging the public to become involved through donations, volunteering and advocating towards the goal of ending hunger.
The month-long campaign, in step with Feeding America, highlights the impact food has on people's lives and shows how a meal goes beyond solely nourishing our bodies.
Their goal is to motivate people to help ensure their neighbors have enough to eat.
"More people are seeking food assistance now than even before the pandemic," said Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank."
"But when we come together to address hunger, we demonstrate that this community cares deeply about the well-being of all its members. There are too many families and individuals who have to choose between buying food and paying for other essential needs like housing, healthcare, or utilities," McKee added.
During September, people across the Blue Ridge area can get involved by volunteering, listening, acting, and inviting others to speak up about ways to end hunger.
- Donate: Every $1 can help provide four meals to those experiencing hunger.
- Volunteer: The Food Bank and its network of partner food pantries rely on volunteers to serve the 127,500 neighbors seeking food assistance each month.
- Advocate: Simply getting the word out about how big hunger is in our community can be remarkably powerful.
"A donation of food or funds, volunteering, or sharing a social media post about hunger in our community have a profound impact, elevating our entire community," McKee said.
With the community's help, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and its network of more than 400 partners (food pantries and program sites) distributed nearly 23 million meals last year, serving 127,500 people, on average, experiencing hunger each month.
For more information, please visit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's website or their Facebook page.