A Simple Gesture Reston Plans February 7, 2026 Pickup at 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers from A SIMPLE GESTURE - RESTON will begin a neighborhood sweep at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, collecting Cool Green Bags of nonperishable food from households across Northern Virginia for distribution to area food pantries. The bi-monthly program runs six times a year and is designed to make donations easy for workers and busy households who want to support neighbors facing food insecurity.

Donors receive a cool green bag to fill with shelf-stable items, and volunteer drivers pick up the bags at the curb. When a driver collects a bag, another green bag is left behind so donors always have a container ready for the next cycle. Collected food is routed to local pantries, including Cornerstones, LINK Against Hunger in Herndon, and the South Lakes High School food pantry; organizers have said a fourth local pantry will also receive donations. The program’s service area includes Reston, Herndon, Potomac Falls, Great Falls, Vienna, Oakton, Wolf Trap, Chantilly, Sterling, and parts of Centreville and Fairfax.

Program scale has grown since founder Bob Schnapp started the effort at the Shoreshim Jewish Community in June 2015. Schnapp said, "Somebody had started something in California and I'd been looking for something to do in food insecurity, and I said, 'Well you know, I think I can do this.' So I asked my congregation for money to purchase Cool Green Bags and for some printing. We would make it as sort of a long-term social action project." Schnapp has also framed the work simply: "The point really is to just help our neighbors who are food insecure."

Organizers report participation in the hundreds to thousands. One recent account cited more than 1,500 families donating every two months. Volunteer totals vary by cycle; one notice listed 61 volunteers mobilizing for a Saturday run, while another communication provided a partial drivers list under a heading naming 47 drivers. A partial roster includes Michelle Amsbary, Greg Becker, Deb Carstoiu, Jacqueline Cooperman, Celia Dallas, Lilyan Dickerson, Tom Drake, and John and Christina Duffy.

Community groups contribute in other ways. The Shouse Village swim team collected roughly 300 pounds of canned goods, and team spirit leader Melissa Carey said, "There is a giant box in the closet that is more than two grown men can pick up right now." Funding support has come from local partners as well; a $5,000 grant from The Closet of the Greater Herndon area was awarded to expand the program and buy more bags. Gene Wiley, president of The Closet, said, "The Closet is pleased to provide this grant to help A Simple Gesture Reston continue their impactful local food collection program."

Workers and employee groups who want to help can sign up for text reminders by replying to the program’s email with a cellphone number or volunteer as a driver or rider for the Feb. 7 pickup. For community-facing workplaces and employee volunteer programs, the model offers a low-friction way to engage staff and sustain recurring support for food pantries. As the Feb. 7 event approaches, organizers expect volunteers to coordinate routes and donations to keep pantry shelves stocked across Northern Virginia.