CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- More than two dozen schools will be participating in an annual drive to support the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

The School Food Drive will kick off on Monday and run through March 24.

According to a release, this drive helps to boost supplies for the food bank during a time of year when donations traditionally run low.

This drive is especially important this year because of the ending of the pandemic allotments for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit recipients.

BRAFB is expecting to see an increase in demand.

Albemarle High School students Emily Warren and Lily Stendig are leading this year's donation push, and they are hoping to build on last year’s success.

The 2022 drive collected more than 11,500 pounds of food, providing nearly 9,600 meals to people in need.

“It’s a huge honor to help lead this year’s School Food Drive and continue its tradition of serving those experiencing food insecurity,” Warren said. “This isn’t a problem that should only be left to adults to address. We have peers experiencing hunger, and we need to play a part in helping them and other families who are affected by food insecurity.”

“The School Food Drive underscores the impact our area’s youth can have in addressing food insecurity,” said Brynna Strand, volunteer and food drive coordinator at the Food Bank. “It is incredibly inspiring to see their passion and generosity help thousands of families experiencing hunger throughout our region, year after year.”

The Brooks Family YMCA is also participating in this year’s drive.

Since the School Food Drive launched in 2011, it has collected 85,000 pounds of food.

The full list of participating schools this year is below:

  • Greenbrier Elementary
  • Jackson-Via Elementary
  • Johnson Elementary
  • Venable Elementary
  • Buford Middle
  • Charlottesville High
  • Albemarle High School
  • Charlottesville Waldorf School
  • Crozet Elementary School
  • Field School of Charlottesville
  • Free Union Country School
  • Hollymead Elementary School
  • Journey Middle School
  • Locust Grove Primary School
  • Locust Grove Elementary School
  • Greer Elementary School
  • Monticello High School
  • Murray Elementary School
  • Ninos and Nature
  • Peabody School
  • Renaissance School
  • Staunton Montessori School
  • St. Anne’s Belfield School
  • Stone-Robinson Elementary School
  • Stony Point Elementary School
  • Tandem Friends School

For more information on the drive, click here.