In early November 2025 with the suspension of federal funding for food assistance looming, the Gaston Community Foundation (GCF) became concerned about Gaston County food insecurity and decided to establish a hunger relief program to encourage generous individuals to donate to it. First, the GCF reached out to Second Harvest Food Bank, a regional hunger relief organization headquartered in Charlotte, to partner in our effort. Second Harvest had the expertise and contacts to use the funds we raised to purchase food and distribute it equitably to Gaston County food banks. With an action plan in place, the GCF publicized our hunger relief initiative on our social media platforms and outlets. We decided to keep the project open until December 31, 2025.
What happened next was truly heartwarming and breathtaking. Almost immediately after reading about the GCG Hunger Relief Project, longtime civic leaders and GCF fundholders John and Malinda Lowery issued a dollar-for-dollar, $50,000 matching challenge to anyone who would give. At that point, the GCF changed the name of our effort to the Lowery Challenge for Hunger Relief and began to publicize the incredible opportunity to feed the hungry.
But things got even better. Exactly eight hours later the same day the Lowerys issued their challenge, another incredibly generous individual met the entire match with an anonymous $50,000 donation to the Lowery Challenge for Hunger Relief. Since then, GCF has continued to receive donations. At the close of the year, we raised $123,720 from all donors, including the Lowerys and the anonymous donor. Most importantly, several Gaston County food banks sent us pictures of the pallets of food they received from Second Harvest at their facilities. People truly avoided hunger over the holidays because of the Lowery Challenge for Hunger Relief.
The Gaston Community Foundation is both proud of our role and grateful for the tremendous community response to hunger relief. We are proud to be part of an organization that is nimble enough to see a serious community need and respond to it quickly. We are grateful for the extraordinary generosity of John and Malinda Lowery, the anonymous donor, and everyone else who contributed to this mission. Knowing that you are someone who cares about Gaston County, we want to share this story as an example of what we can accomplish together when vision, compassion and generosity unite.
Best wishes for a healthy, prosperous new year.
