I’m Leslie Lloyd, president and COO of A Simple Gesture. Our mission is to make it easy for the community to help end hunger. We started by giving generous families green grocery bags with lists of pantry needs, picking up the filled bags once the list was completed, and delivering the food to local pantries. Today, we support 19 pantries, collect from 6,000 households, and have expanded to food recovery from businesses and share refrigerators in schools.
Our work ensures that food reaches those who need it most, quickly and reliably. We rescue short-dated food from local businesses and make it available for community meals, schools, and nonprofits, creating a consistent supply rather than the feast-or-famine model most pantries face.
What drives me is seeing how small acts can create huge impact. Hunger is preventable, and when people come together, it’s amazing how much can be done. Our model has now inspired 86 other cities to start their own Simple Gesture chapters, proving that simple actions can change lives.
To me, being American means stepping up for one another, building strong communities, and making sure no one is left behind. That’s what I see every day through the work we do.
Our work ensures that food reaches those who need it most, quickly and reliably. We rescue short-dated food from local businesses and make it available for community meals, schools, and nonprofits, creating a consistent supply rather than the feast-or-famine model most pantries face.
What drives me is seeing how small acts can create huge impact. Hunger is preventable, and when people come together, it’s amazing how much can be done. Our model has now inspired 86 other cities to start their own Simple Gesture chapters, proving that simple actions can change lives.
To me, being American means stepping up for one another, building strong communities, and making sure no one is left behind. That’s what I see every day through the work we do.
