HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – The Blue Ridge Space Meals Financial institution has launched its annual college meals drive, working till Mar. 21.
The initiative, which has expanded this yr to incorporate faculties within the Shenandoah Valley, goals to deal with meals insecurity throughout a interval when donations usually decline.
“Meals insecurity is a year-round problem, not only a seasonal one,” Mars mentioned. “Partaking college students on this marketing campaign not solely raises meals donations but in addition builds consciousness and encourages group involvement,” mentioned Livia Marrs, the meals financial institution’s volunteer and meals drive supervisor.
Marrs famous that whereas donations surge in the course of the vacation season, they have a tendency to drop off within the winter and early spring. Marrs provides that rising prices for family items throughout this time contributed to the lower, making large-scale meals drives important to sustaining assist for these in want.
This yr, 30 faculties throughout the meals financial institution’s protection space—together with Albemarle County, Charlottesville, Crozet, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg—are taking part, with 11 of these situated within the Shenandoah Valley.
Mars emphasised the numerous position that college students and academics play within the success of the meals drive. “They do the arduous work of mobilizing their communities, getting dad and mom concerned, and elevating consciousness,” Marrs mentioned. “We’re extremely grateful for his or her efforts.”
Whereas college students primarily accumulate donations inside their faculties, group members may also contribute. Moreover, for the primary time, a digital monetary fundraiser is working alongside the meals drive, permitting donors to assist the initiative online.
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