Dear Jan,

The nonprofit world is facing quite a bit of uncertainly right now. At a recent emergency meeting of nonprofit directors, most were anticipating losing federal funds (or had already lost federal funds) and were predicting a shortfall in their budgets. That means making heartbreaking choices about cutting services, laying off staff, or potentially even closing their doors.

Meanwhile, in the area of hunger we're hearing about looming federal cuts in supplemental nutrition programs such as WIC and SNAP and school lunch programs. If that happens, the need for food assistance in our community will increase — at a time when nonprofits are struggling.

A Simple Gesture is very lucky because only a small part of our funding comes via federal grants. So while A Simple Gesture isn't concerned about having to make cuts right now, we are concerned about how to keep up with the need that's coming. If things go the way they're looking right now, we're going to have a lot more hungry people in Guilford County.

You're already pitching in to help, and we're so grateful. Many of our friends have asked what else they can do. I've been suggesting ideas like these:

• Tell your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, about our Green Bag Program. If we each recruit another food donor, we'll double our food collection. If we each recruit two more food donors, we'll triple it!

• Already filling a bag? If you're able, consider filling two. Or switch from filling a bag every other month to our every month program. If you're struggling to fill your bag, rather than skipping consider joining in with friends, family, or coworkers to top it off.

• Make sure your voice is being heard. Contact your representatives to share your thoughts on the importance of programs like WIC, SNAP, and school lunches. The future of all these is uncertain.

• Help us get the word out about our programs. Like our social media and share our posts. Put our magnet on your car. Invite us to speak at your club, church, or neighborhood meeting. Host a food drive at your business. Recommend us for a grant from your employer. We appreciate your support!

And finally, as part of our 10th birthday celebration I have some very good news: A Simple Gesture is thrilled to receive a matching grant from an anonymous donor in our community. That donor will match every gift, dollar for dollar, that we receive between now and the anniversary of our very first green bag pickup on June 6. The timing of this gift is amazing, and we're so grateful! If you can, please pitch in to help us get all $10,000!

• To make a gift via credit card, click here.

• To make a gift via check, mail your gift to A Simple Gesture, PO Box 4426, Greensboro, NC 27404

• To make a gift via Venmo, search @ASimpleGesture

Let's get all $10,000 so we can help feed as many people as possible in our community!

Thank you for caring about your neighbors and working to make our world a better place. Every day, we appreciate you!

Help Is Here: Introducing the Greater Guilford Food Finder App and the NC 2-1-1 Helpline

At a recent event a mom approached the table for A Simple Gesture. She and her daughter were new to the area, and they were struggling. They only knew about one food pantry, and it was only open during the mom's working hours. They didn't know where else to get help. As soon as we told them about the Greater Guilford Food Finder app and the NC 2-1-1 Helpline, you could see the relief spread across the mother's face. Now she knew what to do!

We want the whole community to know about these resources — people in need; the teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, and police officers who might interact with those needing help; and anyone who has ever been approached with a request for a few dollars for food. If we all know about these resources, more help will get to those who are hungry.

Here's what you can do:

1. Download the Greater Guilford Food Finder app today, and show it to anyone who you think it would benefit. You can download it free in your app store. There's also a web page at https://findfood.ghpfa.org. This resource was created by the Greater High Point Food Alliance and covers all of Guilford County and Greater High Point.
2. Put the NC 2-1-1 Helpline in your phone. You'll be prepared to share that information the next time you meet someone who could benefit. This resource is supported by the United Way.
3. Spread the word. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers about these important resources.

Please share this information every chance you get!

April 7-13: Food Waste Prevention Week is Coming up

And it's jam-packed with events! Here's a quick overview of the ways you can get involved:

• April 10, 2 pm: Food Recovery Director Laura Oxner will share the success and the challenges of our first-in-the-nation school-based SHARE program. Click here to register.

• Student art or poetry contest: The theme is "What Food Means to Me." Kids in preschool through grade 12 are eligible for cash prizes. Learn more about the art contest here. Learn more about the poetry contest here.

• Cooking challenge: Anytime you make a meal that helps you rescue food that might have been tossed, share the details and you'll have a chance to win prizes. Learn more.

• All week long: Amazing webinars are scheduled throughout the week— How to Make Leftovers Taste Like New; Food Storage and Creative Cooking; Engaging the Community to Cut Food Waste; What Expiration Dates Really Mean; Food Waste and Climate Change; Composting; Zero Waste Kitchens; and more! Get the list here.

• All week long: ASG staff will share their favorite food waste tips on our social media.(Spoiler alert: One tip involves rotting bananas and foot care!)

Come See Us: Earth Day Extravaganza, High Point Farmer's Market, Carolina Cobras Games, and More!

We had such a good time at last year's Earth Day Festival that we'll be there again this year! Stop by for an interactive activity focused on decreasing food waste and visit the other vendors to learn lots of great Earth-friendly information.

We have other fun events coming up as well:

• April 5, May 3, and May 24, 7 pm—Carolina Cobras indoor football games, Greensboro Coliseum
• April 5, 10 am-1 pm—School Resource Fair, High Point Rockers Stadium
• April 12, 1 pm-5pm—Easter Eggstravaganza, High Point Athletic complex, 2920 School Park Rd.
• April 12, 3 pm-4:30 pm—Egg Hunt for Good, LeBauer Park, Greensboro
• April 26, 10 am-1 pm—Hartley Drive YMCA Healthy Kids Day, 150 W. Hartley Dr., High Point
• May 3, 8:15-11 am—GOFAR race, Piedmont Centre Business Park, 4050 Piedmont Parkway
• May 17, 8 am-noon—Greensboro Corner Market, 2105 West Market St.
• May 17, June 7, July 12, August 2, September 13, October 25, 8:30-1 pm—High Point Farmer's Market

We have a few spots remaining for volunteers to assist with these events. If you'd like to help, please click here.

Saluting Excellence: A Peek Inside the SHARE Program at Smith High School

Every public school in Guilford County has a SHARE refrigerator, where students can place their unopened cafeteria food to share it with any other student who is hungry — just like the refrigerator at home!

This month's SHARE shoutout goes to Smith High School. Their innovative approach to repurposing excess food is inspiring!

Led by the Communities in Schools Director, Natalie Ward, Smith purchased reusable grocery bags for each classroom. Students eat breakfast in the classroom and add any unopened cafeteria items to the bag at the end of the breakfast period. Teachers hang the bag outside their classrooms and students training for job skills pick up the bags, sort the food, and put it in the refrigerator in the cafeteria. Everybody wins!

One of the extraordinary features of SHARE is its adaptability. Schools are able to use the resources they have available to accomplish the goals of saving unused cafeteria food from the landfill while feeding students who need a snack during the day. 

Well done, Ms. Ward and Principal Sellars!

Not sure where the SHARE refrigerator is at your child's school? Ask an administrator to show you. If your school is doing a great job utilizing the SHARE fridge to feed hungry students, nominate your school for a SHARE Shoutout!

Sending extra-special thank-yous to:

• Rotary Club of Southern Guilford, for collecting nonperishable food every month at their meetings!
• Volvo, for continuing their monthly green bag pickups on their campus.
• Southwest Elementary, which has each grade level taking charge of a monthly food drive. Recently students have collected proteins and rice. They'll top off their drive with a school-wide domino of mac and cheese boxes. Watch our social media for a recap!
• Schnabel Engineering for hosting their first ASG food drive.
• Colfax Elementary, which hosted an amazing cereal domino with over 1,000 boxes of cereal for local food pantries.
• The Crowne at James Landing, for leading a food drive in their community.
• ReMax Realty Consultants and Realtor Bethany Fields, for collecting over 700 pounds of food for BackPack Beginnings. Wow!!!!
• Sunbird Storage, for launching a food collection at their Battleground Avenue location.
• Greater High Point Food Alliance, for awarding us a Food Security Fund grant.
• Hope Fest 4 Hunger, which staged yet another amazing day of dance and raised money for A Simple Gesture and Greensboro Urban Ministry.
• Junction 311 and the Heartbreaker Marathon runners, for donating food and funds and inviting us to the race.
• 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!

Indoor Football: Partnering With the Carolina Cobras!

The Carolina Cobras got a big win last weekend! A Simple Gesture has a table at every home game, an ad in the program, and a special deal on season tickets that we can share with our friends! To get a season ticket for just $25, click here. Choose "A Simple Gesture" on the form, and for "Student/Player Name" just type "N/A." You'll be glad you joined in the fun!

Watch for updates about A Simple Gesture night at a Cobras game!

Women to Watch: Join Us Wednesday, April 16

From Our Sustainers: 

Be a Hero for Hunger



"With summer coming up, I decided to switch to being a monthly financial donor. I'm going to be out of town a lot, yet I know it's important to get food to the pantries for children and families. Setting up an automatic monthly gift makes things easier for me at a busy time of year." — 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.