Harsh reality | 1 in 9 in the Shenandoah Valley are food insecure

The focus for September at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is to raise awareness of and advocate for members of the community who are food insecure.

“It’s a month set aside to raise awareness about hunger in our community,” said Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Communications & PR Manager Les Sinclair.

Hunger Action Day is Sept. 9, a day during which everyone is encouraged to wear orange in support of hunger awareness and raise their voices and advocate with local officials “that hunger is important and they should be paying attention to it.”

Individuals who would like to help have four ways to do so: donate online where $1 provides three meals, volunteer at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s headquarters in Verona where 171,000 are fed on average every month, advocate with local elected officials, and raise awareness by speaking up and wearing orange.

Volunteers are encouraged to share their participation online and continue to raise awareness about hunger.

“The need for food assistance is higher than ever, affecting families, seniors and working people across the Blue Ridge. Our vision is simple: nourishing food and good health for everyone, every day,” Blue Ridge Area Food Bank CEO Kari Diener said.

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ICYMI: Food bank news

• Feeding America CEO sees ‘extraordinary work’ done at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank summer program doubles service numbers this year
• School Food Drive breaks records for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
• Fresh Food Express van expands capacity of Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s new CEO brings 25+ years in nonprofit leadership

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In the last year, the food bank has distributed more than 27 million meals, or 32 million pounds of food, with the help of nearly 400 partner pantries.

“Every action matters — whether it’s giving, volunteering or raising your voice,” Diener said. “Together, we strengthen our community and prove that no effort is too small to help end hunger.”

According to Sinclair, the food bank, which serves 25 counties and 8 cities in Virginia through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona, has experienced a 16 percent increase in need from fiscal year 2024-2025.

“We are the highest we’ve ever been,” Sinclair said.

The numbers now are higher than during the COVID-19 pandemic and are not just numbers. They represent individuals and families who are food insecure in our communities. Sinclair said the rising cost of child care, cost of living and groceries are all contributing to rising need for food banks and pantries.

“Hunger is a symptom of all these things,” he said.

Food insecurity in the United States is the highest, according to Feeding America data, as more than 47 million Americans face hunger, including 14 million children. In the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank‘s service area, the date translates to one in nine individuals being food insecure.

Also at stake is the U.S. Farm Bill 2023, part of the continuing resolution which has not passed Congress yet and faces another deadline on September 30, 2025. Hunger and nutrition are important components of the legislation.

“We’re seven years into a five-year Fam Bill. It hasn’t caught up to where we are economically,” Sinclair said.

Community members are encouraged to reach out to their local elected officials about passage of the Farm Bill.

Volunteers are always welcome at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, but especially for Hunger Action Month when they will help with recovery, produce sorting and preparing emergency food boxes.

“Volunteers are such an important part of what we do at the food bank,” Sinclair said.

Several opportunities will present themselves in September for the community to be involved in hunger awareness. From Sept. 7 to 13, Friendly City Co-Op will accept donations at the register. Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste campaign is also collecting donations from customers at check out. Rack ‘Em, Smack ‘Em Ribs in Verona will donate $1 of every purchase of a BBQ sandwich. The Waynesboro East Augusta Crop Hunger Walk will be held September 21.

“It’s really an inspiring month, especially wearing orange on September 9,” Sinclair said.