Hello Friends,

So often, tough times bring out the best in people, and that's what we've seen again and again over these last few months. When SNAP food assistance was abruptly halted during the government shutdown last month, food pantries quickly saw 30% to 40% increases in requests for help. At the same time, as part of the budget bill most lawful refugees permanently lost their SNAP benefits. One of the things I love most about our community is that you step forward to take care of your neighbors. So many of you filled extra green bags, hosted food drives, shipped food to us via Amazon or Walmart, dropped off extra food at our office, donated to our Fill the Gap fund, and spread the word about ways to help. You showed how much you care.

Things have calmed down for now, but families we know and people we love are teetering on the edge. As SNAP requirements change, families are likely to lose benefits and will turn to food pantries for more and more help. We're doing everything we can to get ready. We need your support more than ever.

Our annual year-end appeal letter has gone out to many of our friends. We're grateful for the myriad ways you support A Simple Gesture — filling your green bag, spreading the word about food recovery, volunteering to be a driver, telling your friends about ASG, posting on social media, becoming a monthly financial donor, and making a year-end gift. A gift of any size — $5, $50, $500, or $5,000 — is a tremendous help in making sure children and families get the nutritious meals they need.

This is a season for togetherness. Please know that we are grateful for how our community comes together when times are tough. Your generosity and compassion inspire me to keep going, keep pushing, and keep finding new ways to get food pantries stocked and provide food for community meals. We'll do it — together.

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season,

Incredible! Big Growth for Food Recovery

While final numbers are still being tallied, we already know that 2025 was a huge year for food recovery. Here's a quick look at the stats:

• 5,500+ food rescues
• 1.6 million+ pounds recovered (including via our SHARE refrigerators)
• 96 food donor partners
• 42 food recipient partners
• Well-trained and highly effective and committed base of volunteers

We're launching new ways to expand food recovery in 2026, so we can keep food out of landfills and use it to feed neighbors in need. Stay tuned!

Let's Meet Up: Join Us for Coffee & Conversation in 2026

Throughout 2026, we're planning monthly chats at locations across the Triad. We'll talk about changes coming for food pantries, ideas for influencing food policy, the impact of food waste on our environment, and so much more! Leslie will lead the charge, and we'll have some special guests too.

Mark your calendar: Our first Coffee & Conversation will be on Thursday, January 15 at 9:30 am in Greensboro. We haven't picked a location yet, so click here to suggest your favorite spot and to RSVP!

The next Coffee & Conversation will be on Thursday, February 12 in High Point. Details to come!

Food for Refugees: ASG Launches New Program

While lawful refugees previously were eligible for food assistance benefits (SNAP), the most recent budget bill eliminates that option for most refugee groups. As a result,

over 700 immigrants and refugees in our community have lost their food benefits.

Without significant community support, the scope of hunger among these vulnerable groups could quickly become a crisis.

A Simple Gesture has partnered with Church World Service, Out of the Garden Project, and the Interfaith Immigrant Justice Coalition to form the Refugee Feeding Network (RFN). Last month the RFN began hosting twice-monthly mobile markets specifically for immigrants and refugees:

• A Simple Gesture collects and purchases shelf-stable food specific to the cultural needs of immigrants and refugees.
• Church World Service and other refugee service agencies identify families (this market is not open to the public).
• Out of the Garden Project supplies fresh produce and hosts the markets.
• Interfaith Immigrant Justice Coalition works with faith communities to build support. Big shoutout to Westminster Presbyterian Church, which has provided tremendous support to launch the markets!

From Our Sustainers: 

Be a Hero for Hunger



"As a monthly sustainer, I like knowing that my money goes to whatever the biggest need is, whether that's buying food, paying for green bags, putting gas in the van, or whatever else is needed." — Anonymous financial donor

Thank you to this donor and to all of our monthly sustainers. A gift in any amount — $10, $20, $50, $100 — each month is a huge help in getting children and families the food they need.

We have a HUGE list of groups to thank for the many special food drives at the end of 2025. Get ready to scroll!

• The 2013 Girls Fusion team for hosting a food drive to kick off the holiday season!
• Black Professionals and Allies Network, Piedmont Chemical, Piedmont Partners, and Brown & Brown Insurance, which hosted incredible food drives.
• Carolina Coatings and Pennybyrn, for continuing their traditions of doing Reverse Advent food drives.
• Carolina Pines, which filled their food collection box to the top with Thanksgiving meal provisions.
• Sales Factory, which dedicates 24 hours to doing pro bono projects for nonprofits every year. This year ASG received updated brochures and a website review!
• Greensboro Chiropractic, for collecting over 2,000 pounds of food during a special event at their office.
• Spare Time in Greensboro, for collecting food during their busy holiday season. Customers who brought a food donation received a $10 Game Zone card!
• Carolina Theatre and the High Point Theatre, which hosted food drives during their holiday shows.
• Southwest Elementary, which hosted a World Kindness Day food drive. Students were challenged to fill 50 green bags with food — and they did!
• Carter Bank, for hosting a food drive at two Triad locations. Swing by, the food drive hasn't ended yet!
• Guilford County Partnership for Children and the Guilford County Schools office on Green Valley for pitching in to collect food.
• Childcare Network, Kid Appeal Learning Center, GCS EC PreK, Milestones Academy, St. Francis Episcopal Day School, Wesley Memorial School, and Shepherd's Way Day School, which hosted food drives and focused on teaching our youngest citizens that we can all make a difference.
• Colfax Elementary, for collecting over 1,500 pounds of food. They filled our van!
• Howard Hannah Allen Tate Oak Ridge and the High Point University Admissions Department, for once again pitching in to collect much-needed food for our community.
• Edward Jones on Plank Road in High Point, for collecting food donations at their annual holiday party again this year.
• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and Hill Evans Jordan & Beatty, for hosting downtown food drives.
• High Point Arts Council and High Point Yoga School for collecting food donations at their classes and events.
• The Crowne at James Landing, for once again filling their food drive bin again and again.
• The amazing Daybreak Square neighborhood in Northern Shores, for collecting 3,075 pounds of food!
• Samet Corporation, for holding a super-creative food drive. They built their donated food into beautiful structures!
• CVS on Battleground, UNCG Black Student Union, VBC Run Club, and Kintura, for generously filling green bags.
• Crazy Running, for dreaming up a cereal box obstacle course for a great cause!
• Mother Murphy's, for hosting a multi-week food drive at both of their plant locations.
• Encounter Church, Guilford Park Presbyterian, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and St. Mary's Episcopal in High Point, for so many food donations!
• Fellowship Hall and Integrated Family Services, for giving back to our community in many ways, including collecting food.
• Get Outdoors Pedal and Paddle for collecting 274 pounds of food — enough to fill a canoe!
• Henson Forest Clubhouse and Whittington Hall HOA for each collecting over 200 pounds of nonperishable food.
• Marquis-Seating, for hosting their first of what we hope will be many food drives with us.
• Summerfield Charter Academy, for collecting food donations and keeping kids focused on doing good in the community.
• High Point Friends School, for gathering over 400 food items to donate!
• The STEM Early College at NC A&T, for collecting 378 pounds of food.
• Moses Cone Department of Pharmacy and Moses Cone ER, for collecting food in support of good health.
• Neighbors on McDowell Drive for working together to collect food.
• The Oliver Family Light Display, which is still happening at 2606 Shadylawn Dr. Swing by to see the lights and drop off a canned food donation!
• Piedmont Trust Company, Reconsidered Goods, TEKsystems Greensboro, VF Corporation, and Salon Arcadia for pitching in to collect food.
• Tri-City Christian Academy, for teaching compassion through an amazing food drive.
• The Elderlaw Firm, TRLA, and THS Creative, for demonstrating their commitment to community through successful food drives.
• Winterfest at City Lake Park, for a super-fun (though super-cold) event where you could get a wristband for rides with your food donation.
• On behalf of our food recovery team, thank you to the many businesses donating their excess food, from hams and turkeys to trays of sandwiches to yummy lasagnas! Feeding not wasting!
• YOU, for filling a green bag, doing food recovery, volunteering to drive, sorting food as it's delivered, making a financial gift, liking our social media, decreasing food waste at home, and telling your neighbors about A Simple Gesture. Thank you for being part of the ASG community!