HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ event collected more than 91,000 lbs. of food for this year’s drive.

That’s equal to more than 76,000 meals that will help feed those facing food insecurity across the BRAFB’s service area. According to a release from the Food Bank, ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ is the world’s largest single-day food drive.

The campaign, hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers, collects donated food items from mailboxes in the BRAFB’s 25-county service area, which letter carriers pick up throughout the day. Volunteers then sort the donations at the Food Bank’s branches across the region.

According to Livia Marrs, the Volunteer & Food Drive Manager for BRAFB, the organization has seen an increasing need for their services.

“This is important right now because the Food Bank is experiencing all-time highs and need for food assistance and especially as we head into the summer months, we just have less Community food donations coming in,” Marrs said. “So large food drive events like this mean more than ever.”

During the summer months, the Food Bank typically sees a decline in community food donations and an increase in demand as children are home during the school summer break. And because of that, the Food Bank’s work is cut out for them this time of year, CEO Michael McKee said in the release.

“These donations for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive come at a crucial time to help keep pantries stocked. During the summer months, children and families can count on the Food Bank and its partner pantries to have a fresh supply of food,” McKee said.

Harrisonburg contributed more than 10,500 lbs. of food during this year’s campaign.