Q: When will my bag be picked up?
A: Pick-up day is the first Saturday of every other month. The scheduled dates are on our website and on the tag of your Cool Green Bag. Your bag should be placed outside your front door by 8:30 am on pick-up day. Some routes are not finished until 10:30 am. If your bag is not picked up by 10:30, please contact us at signup@CoolGreenBag.org.
Q: Where is the list of usual food items needed by the pantries?
A: Please see the right-hand side of our website at: https://www.CoolGreenBag.org/
Q: Special food items are often needed by the pantries. Where can I find that list?
A: The list is usually included in the two reminder emails. If you cannot find that email, please contact us at signup@CoolGreenBag.org.
Q: Where does the food go after it is picked up from my house?
A: We service four food pantries: Reston Cornerstones; LINK in Herndon; South Lakes High School PTSA Food Pantry; and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. Your food may be taken to any of those four based on the route you are in.
Q: What happens to my donation at the pantry after it is delivered?
A: The staff (and volunteers when they are able) sort the donations. This process takes some time. Pictures on ASG’s website show the “before and after our donations.” The food bank distributes the food as needed to their clients. A Simple Gesture is not involved in the distribution of the food once it arrives at the pantry.
Q: Can I donate over-the-counter medicines?
A: NO. The pantries are not allowed to give out any sort of medicine.
Q: Can I donate large bulk items?
A: Yes and No. Bulk items that are wrapped and can be separated, like paper towels, or multiple shrink-wrapped canned items are acceptable. But 20-pound bags of rice are not acceptable. They cannot be separated at the pantries for distribution. Very large bottles of items like oil are difficult for the pantries to stock and distribute.
Q: I cannot find my cool green bag for this pick-up. What should I do?
A: Place your food in another grocery bag and mark on it “For A Simple Gesture.” Also, tell the driver to leave you a replacement bag.
Q: Where can I send a monetary donation?
A: You can send your monetary donations to:
Shoreshim Jewish Community
P.O. Box 2516
Reston, Virginia 20195
Make sure to write in the note section “For A Simple Gesture.”
A Simple Gesture Reston’s fiscal sponsor is Shoreshim Jewish Community, a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Donations of food and monetary support are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This does not constitute tax advice – donors should consult their own tax advisor.
Q: If I want to do more volunteer work who do I contact?
A: Contact Bob Schnapp at bob@CoolGreenBag.org.
Q: I would like someone from A Simple Gesture to speak to my organization to get members more involved. Whom do I contact?
A: Contact Bob Schnapp at bob@CoolGreenBag.org.