Hello Friends,
This is one of my favorite times of the year. While most people see the middle of winter as cold and dark, I see it as a time that's bursting with amazing community events!
First up is the annual Heartbreaker Relay & Marathon on Sunday, February 11. A Simple Gesture is thrilled to be the official charity partner for this race. Scroll down to learn more!
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After that is Hope Fest 4 Hunger on Sunday, February 18. Now in its sixth year, this amazing event brings together multicultural dance groups from across the Triad while also raising money to fight hunger. Details are below. The event is free!
Events like these remind me what a loving and giving community we live in. Working together and taking care of one another is the only way we'll be able to end hunger.
Thanks for all you do,
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PS: During the holidays we ran an educational commercial with Fox8 online about cutting food waste. Check it out here!
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Coming Up: Heartbreaker Marathon Is in Just a Few Weeks
Country Park in Greensboro is the site of the incredible Valentine's Heartbreaker Marathon & Relay. From a bustling Tent City to runners ready to rock it out to amazing race hoodies, race day is a big day and big fun!
If you're a runner, register now. ASG food donors get a $10 discount! If you're not a runner, we could use your help as a volunteer on race day. For everyone who volunteers on behalf of ASG, A Simple Gesture will receive a donation from event sponsor Junction 311, and the volunteer will get a race hoodie of your very own, plus an ASG t-shirt. Volunteer tasks include handling race day materials, packet pickup, parking lots, hospitality tent, water breaks, and more. Hope to see you there!
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Mark Your Calendar: February 18 Is Hope Fest 4 Hunger
Plan to attend this wonderful multicultural dance festival on February 18 at the Carolina Theater. Hosted by First Lutheran and many generous sponsors, the event features dancers from around the world, a 50/50 cash raffle, an online auction, food, and more. Doors open at 1 pm and performances run from 2 pm-4 pm. Event proceeds go to A Simple Gesture and Greensboro Urban Ministries. Check out the new Hope Fest video and click below to learn more. The full lineup of performers will be released soon!
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A New Record: ASG Collects Over 100,000 Pounds of Food in High Point
For the first time, our Greater High Point area food donors surpassed 100,000 pounds of food for High Point pantries. Wow!
"Just a few years ago we had four teams of drivers in High Point," says ASG High Point Director and Board Vice-Chairperson David Lees. "Now we have over 40 teams of drivers. We're thrilled to get to this benchmark!"
We're not stopping there. If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker who you think would like to be a food donor, share this link to sign up: https://asimplegesturegso.org/ways-to-help/sign-me-up/. Thanks for all you do to help feed our hungry neighbors!
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Year-End Recap: Together We Fed a Lot of People!
We're still compiling our year-end numbers, but here are a few highlights. Watch for our 2023 Impact Report to be available in the next few weeks!
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A Simple Gesture is thrilled to welcome a new team member. Maria Purcell joins A Simple Gesture with a diverse work and volunteer background, including working in media and with technology education franchises. Maria grew up in Greensboro and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This former PTA president volunteered in her children’s schools for over 18 years and currently volunteers with ASG and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In her new role Maria will be at the forefront of growing green bag participation. You can reach her at [email protected]. Welcome, Maria!
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Believe It or Not: Our Van Is Finally Here!
After waiting well over a year, A Simple Gesture's van has finally arrived! We'll be adding our name to the side, along with thank yous to our sponsors, including Gate City Rotary. Stay tuned for an official van-welcoming celebration. She's already hard at work, making food recovery pickups and deliveries!
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America's Favorite Pet: If Izzie Wins, So Does ASG!
Sweet kitty Izzie is in the running for America's Favorite Pet. And if she wins, A Simple Gesture gets a generous donation! Voting starts on January 29 and runs until February 8: https://americasfavpet.com/2024/izzie-6daa. Set a reminder for yourself to vote once every 24 hours or sign up here to get a daily reminder. If Izzie advances to the second round, the voting will continue. Plus the big winner will be on the cover of Modern Cat Magazine. Go, Izzie!
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Sending extra-special thank-yous to:
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Kathy Klein and her neighbors in Northern Shores for an incredible food drive. They collected 3,597 pounds of food!
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Ecolab, for supporting A Simple Gesture both through a food drive and through a grant.
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Walmart Stores #5014 on High Point Road, #4477 on North Main Street in High Point, and #1613 on South Main Street in High Point for grant awards.
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Loyal ASG Driver Jennifer Doggett and Milestones School of Achievement for an amazing holiday food collection!
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Loyal ASG Drivers Pam and Bill Mashburn for hosting a food drive through Encounter Church.
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The Oliver Family, which puts on an amazing holiday light display at their home and collects food donations. This year they collected 904 pounds of food!
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Fleet Feet and the Greensboro Half Marathon for collecting food before and during the race and for encouraging runners to sign up to become green bag food donors.
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Pennybyrn, for hosting their first Reverse Advent Calendar project.
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Davis Heating & Air, NC Fusion, High Point University Admissions Department, Haven Salon, Dudley High School HOSA and NSBE Clubs, Edward Jones on Old Plank Road, Southwest Elementary, Sagewell Health & Fitness, North Carolina A&T, Greensboro Sports Performance, and amazing ASG Driver Dawn Brinson and the International Furnishings & Design Association, which all hosted much-needed food drives leading up to the holidays. Thank you, friends!
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Carolina Management Team, for hosting their annual Reverse Advent Calendar project.
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YOU, for filling a green bag, volunteering to drive, sorting food as it's delivered, making a financial gift, and telling your neighbors about A Simple Gesture. Thank you for being part of the ASG community!
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Tons of Tags: Gearing Up for a New Year!
When the year comes to a close, we have lots of green bags that need new tags. What to do? This year, the Now What? widows' and widowers' group came to the rescue! They retagged about 2,000 bags to get us ready for the new year. Thank you, Now What? friends!
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From Our Sustainers: Be a Hero for Hunger
"I do most of my shopping online, so I kept forgetting to fill my green bag. Every time I'd be running to the store at the last minute! So I switched to making a monthly financial gift. It's an easy way to support the work of A Simple Gesture. Now I send a donation of the same amount of money I would have spent filling my bag. No more last-minute grocery runs!" — Anonymous financial donor
Thank you to this donor and to all of our monthly sustainers. A gift in any amount — $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 — each month is a huge help to us. Learn more about monthly giving at asimplegesturegso.org/donate.
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Share this newsletter with your friends and family to increase awareness about local hunger and ways to help.
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