Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 2025 Scouting for Food Drive Crosses the 1 Million Pounds Mark for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
VERONA, Va. (December 11, 2025) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank announces that the 2025 Scouting for Food campaign has pushed the program’s total contributions to the Food Bank past 1 million pounds of food. This is a historic milestone in the effort to end hunger across central and western Virginia.
Thanks to the dedication of Scout Troops from the Shenandoah Area and Virginia Headwaters Councils, this year’s drive collected:
- 52,868 pounds of food
- $195 in donations — enough to provide nearly 600 meals
- These food and monetary donations resulted in the equivalent of 44,642 meals for neighbors living with food insecurity
Since formal tracking began in 2012, Scouts have contributed 1,035,671 pounds of food and cash donations that translate to about 899,149 meals for families across the region. This year’s total is an 11,000-pound increase over last year, building on a legacy of service.
“We are deeply grateful to the Scouts, their families, and the community. This year’s drive alone provided more than 44,000 meals, and together we’ve surpassed 1 million pounds of food collected over more than a decade. It’s a testament to the power of collective action,” said Livia Marrs, volunteer and food drive manager at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “The Scouting for Food drive shows how neighbors can come together to help solve hunger, every day.”
On November 1, Scouts distributed door hangers in local neighborhoods to encourage residents to prepare food donations. One week later, on November 8, Scouts returned to collect the donations, which were delivered to the Food Bank and its network of community partners for distribution.
Thanks to the Scouts’ dedication, thousands of people across the Blue Ridge will have nourishing meals this season.
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About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization serving western and central Virginia. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona. Each month, the Food Bank supports an average of 171,200 guest visits, reaching record numbers of Virginians through a network of 400+ community partners—food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and program sites. As a partner food bank of Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank pledges to continue innovating and adapting to secure, store, and distribute more food to more individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.
About Scouting for Food
Scouting for Food is a national service initiative of the Boy Scouts of America. Under the slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily,” Scouts collect food to address hunger and support healthier communities. Participating Scouts earn recognition for their efforts, contributing to a legacy of service that exemplifies the spirit of their organization.
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Contact: Les Sinclair
434-962-5403
lsinclair@brafb.org
www.brafb.org
