CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The numbers are in, and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank announces a more than 6500 pounds of food was collected in last month’s School Food Drive, putting the total number of pounds of food collected in the now 14-year history over 100,000. Albemarle High School schoolmates Emily Warren and Lily Stendig led the collections effort among 20 schools where 6531 pounds of food were collected, which provides 5442 meals for those who need them in our community. This year, Sofia Smith from Tandem Friends School joined as a co-coordinator.

In 14 annual school collections now, area schools have accumulated 101,909 pounds of food which serves 84,295 meals.

Participating schools (and organizations) for the 2024 drive included:
• Agnor Hurt Elementary School
• Albemarle High School
• Baker Butler Elementary School
• Brownsville Elementary School
• Crozet Elementary School
• Greenbrier Elementary School
• Greer Elementary School
• Henley Middle School
• Monticello High School
• Murray Elementary School
• Peabody School
• Renaissance School
• Scottsville Elementary School
• Staunton Montessori School
• Stone Robinson Elementary School
• Stony Point Elementary School
• Tandem Friends School
• The Covenant School: Upper School
• The International School of Charlottesville
• Waldorf School
• The Dairy Market and Cav Futures

School Food Drive winners were determined by the number of pounds collected per student (pounds collected / student body population). The 2024 winners include (broken out by school classes):
Elementary Schools:
• 1st Place: Murray Elementary
• 2nd Place: Crozet Elementary
• 3rd Place: Brownsville Elementary

Elementary/Middle Schools:
• 1st Place: Waldorf School
• 2nd Place: Peabody School

Middle School:
• 1st Place: Henley Middle School

Middle/Upper Schools:
• 1st Place: Covenant School
• 2nd Place: Tandem Friends

High Schools:
• High 1st Place: Renaissance School
• High 2nd Place: Albemarle High School
• High 3rd Place: Monticello High School

Most pounds collected overall:
• 1st Place: Murray Elementary School
• 2nd Place: Covenant School
• 3rd Place: Crozet Elementary School

Livia Marrs, Food Bank Volunteer and Food Drive Manager notes, “The commitment and effort of these young students and the community should be celebrated! Crossing the 100,000-pound collected threshold is something we could only do together. We are extremely grateful for the years of support we’ve received. The food and grocery items collected here will have an immediate and positive impact on those who need it most in our community.”