CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – With September marking Hunger Action Month, a national campaign run by the Feeding America Network, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes are both spreading the word as they continue their efforts to serve Central Virginia.

“Hunger is invisible,” Les Sinclair, Senior Manager of Communications & Public Relations for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, told Cville Right Now. “Someone, our neighbor, could be living with hunger and you wouldn’t know it unless they told you so. This is one of those invisible things in our lives, and that’s why Hunger Action Month and Hunger Action Day is so important because it really does raise the awareness that so many people in our community are food insecure.”

This year, Hunger Action Month comes amidst concerning trends. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank saw guest visits rise 4% this past year, reaching an average of 178,700 per month, the highest monthly average in its 45-year history. More alarmingly, monthly guest visits have increased by about 40% over the past four years.

At Loaves & Fishes, 143,728 individuals in 36,596 households received groceries in 2025, representing a 12% increase in households and a 13% increase in individuals from 2024. 32% of those households visited the pantry for the first time in 2025, and through mid-August, 1.8 million pounds of groceries had already been provided to 97,000 people, according to an email sent from Loaves & Fishes on Monday.

“The numbers just keeping going in the wrong direction,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair credited the rise in visitors to the “strange” economic conditions, with more middle- and lower-income households seeking food assistance.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is encouraging those interested in helping to do four things this month — donate, as just $1 can provide more then three meals, and volunteer with the food bank, advocate to local elected officials for stronger hunger-relief policies, and spread awareness by, among other things, sharing the food bank’s social media posts, posting yourself wearing orange on Sept. 29, which is Hunger Action Day, and starting conversations about hunger with others.

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Volunteer and Food Drive Manager Livia Marrs encouraged people “try to get plugged in wherever you can” for Hunger Action Day during an appearance on 92.7 C-Ville Country.

“Whether that be sharing a post or volunteering or having a food drive in your area, those are all really great ways to visibly make an impact here at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank,” she said.

Despite the high demand, Sinclair emphasized that demand is being met at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank because of the support the food bank receives from the community year-round,

“Hunger Action Month is just the month to raise awareness,” he said. “This happens every month, and because of our donors and our supporters it is indeed a success for over 178,000 people.”

Those looking for more information or assistance can do so at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s website.