Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Amplifies Call to Action During Hunger Action Month

Uniting the Community to Combat the Silent Crisis of Hunger.

As September ushers in Hunger Action Month, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank joins forces with Feeding America to galvanize the community around the critical yet often overlooked issue of food insecurity. Spearheaded locally by the Food Bank, this year’s campaign endeavors to evoke more than just a passing dialogue on hunger—it aims to instill a fervor that will inspire action.

Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, addresses hunger as a “quiet crisis,” one exacerbated by the after-effects of the pandemic. “Hunger is not a solitary issue. It’s intrinsically linked to broader social determinants like housing, healthcare, and utilities,” McKee expounded. “It’s more than just a shortage of food; it’s a scarcity of human dignity.”

The numbers speak volumes. The Food Bank, in alliance with a robust network of over 400 partner organizations, distributed nearly 23 million meals last year. Each month, on average, 127,500 individuals sought food assistance through this intricate framework. In every zip code in the Blue Ridge region, citizens wrestle with the gnawing issue of food insecurity, according to Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap study.

So, what can you do? The avenues for impact are threefold—donation, volunteerism, and advocacy.

1. Monetary Contributions: A single dollar can yield four meals, making even modest donations tremendously impactful.
2. Manpower: An army of volunteers is the backbone of the Food Bank and its extensive network, facilitating the distribution of food to the scores seeking sustenance each month.
3. Voice: Your voice can be your most potent tool. This year, the campaign places emphasis on the advocacy for a robust 2023 Farm Bill. “Even raising awareness about the scale of hunger can be remarkably potent,” urged McKee.

The Food Bank’s vision transcends the provision of mere calories. “Our goal is nourishing food and good health—for everyone, every day,” stated McKee. It’s a holistic approach to well-being that can only be realized through collective action. As Hunger Action Month dawns, let us all heed this urgent call. The solutions to this crisis reside within our community. The time to act is now. Whether you donate, volunteer, or advocate, your contribution reverberates, lifting the entire community.

Learn more about how you can take action by visiting www.brafb.org.