Why Bruce & Peggy Sherman Choose to Give Back—Now and for the Future

Bruce Sherman likens hunger to a statement by Desmond Tutu: “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.” Bruce and his wife Peggy understand the need to alleviate hunger now while developing long-term strategies to eradicate food insecurity and its root causes. That’s why the Greensboro couple decided to include Second Harvest Food Bank in their estate plans in addition to their annual giving.

“I have a passion for children, for elders, for those in need,” Peggy says. “We love focusing our donations on causes that align with our passions. Second Harvest’s mission is among these. No child, no adult, no person should be afraid that they can’t find food.”

Bruce describes the long-term need: “Food is a foundational need for all of us. As much as we focus on ensuring that everyone has adequate healthy food, we must also face the issue of hunger at the systems level and ask ourselves what we can do to move people toward food security. We need to address both components simultaneously.”

After pursuing careers in the medical field and raising a family in Cleveland, Ohio, the Shermans moved to Greensboro in 2018 to be close to their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, who reside in Winston-Salem.

“This is home, so if there is anything we can do to help this community, then that is what we want to do,” Bruce says. “Our gift to Second Harvest reflects that desire to give back.”

In Ohio, the Shermans supported several nonprofit agencies, including their local food bank. Once established in the Triad, they explored opportunities for engaging with their community.

“We are not looking for quick fixes,” Bruce explains. “We are looking to be involved in much larger, deeper ways, in exploring processes that move toward meaningful, sustainable, long-lasting solutions.”

Second Harvest offered the relationship they wanted. “When we were new to the area and not familiar with regional nonprofit entities, we felt warmly welcomed by Second Harvest as collaborators and supporters,” Bruce says. “They listened to our thoughts and concerns.  That helped fuel our passion, and we’re very grateful.”

Bruce and Peggy have chosen to partner with Second Harvest because of its mission: “With our community and partners, we will increase food security and create pathways that build a stronger Northwest North Carolina.” 

Working with Community and Partners

The Shermans have observed how effectively Second Harvest involves the community.

“Too many organizations out there have great ideas for solving problems, but they are not involving the people they serve,” Bruce says. “The voice of the community must be heard. The community needs to be involved in prioritizing concerns and developing solutions.”  

Bruce and Peggy highlighted Second Harvest’s strong commitment to collaboration with institutions of higher education, such as North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University, as well as regional health organizations, to collect data and deepen understanding of where and why poverty and food insecurity affect our community.

Bruce recalls an often-quoted proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Second Harvest, he says, embodies the latter part of the adage.

Increasing Food Security

Bruce practiced as a hospital-based pulmonary/critical care physician and researcher in Cleveland. In Greensboro, Bruce is no longer clinically active, though he continues to be involved in health equity research activities. He has seen firsthand how inadequate nutrition can lead to serious health issues.

“I saw many individuals who were struggling to make ends meet, and they had health conditions that were reflective of their circumstances,” he says. “Too often we take for granted what we have until we understand the experiences of those who don’t.”

When introduced to Second Harvest, the Shermans were inspired to learn that Second Harvest is the primary food source for more than 500 food assistance programs throughout the 18 counties it serves. They learned about mobile pantries that reach into rural communities and other food deserts; about BackPack programs that send nutritional food and snacks home with school children; about hot, plated food prepared by Second Harvest-trained chefs delivered to children, seniors, and adults with disabilities living in low-income households; and about coordination with state and national agencies to get food and supplies to those impacted by natural disasters, including Hurricane Helene.

“I wasn’t aware of the extent of their impact on the communities they serve,” Bruce says. Peggy adds, “It’s wonderful. Everyone needs food to thrive.”

Peggy, a registered nurse, focused on raising their daughter after working for a company that sold angioplasty supplies.  She’s always had a passion for helping people, both as a nurse and a volunteer.  

Now both retired, the Shermans have the time, energy, and resources to help Second Harvest and its partners find strategic solutions to food insecurity. “At this stage of our life, we are thinking of the next generation and wanting to do what we can to help,” Peggy says.

Creating Pathways that Build a Stronger Northwest North Carolina

Keenly interested in data-driven strategic planning, Bruce has joined Second Harvest's Advisory Board, where he will work alongside other civic, business, healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit thought leaders, utilizing his work experience and research background to explore more system-based ways of benefiting the people that Second Harvest serves. 

“People wonder how they can feel good about their contribution if they don’t know what value it is adding. To me, having that measurement is critical. It informs business operations, ideas, strategies, and approaches to problem solving that help maximize value,” Bruce says. “The data informs how we address problems in ways that are as upstream as possible.”

As a new member of the Advisory Board, Bruce hopes to explore Second Harvest’s role as a convener, bringing together community members and leaders to make impactful changes in all areas of health, food access, and poverty.

“This is our opportunity to examine how best practices of one organization are transferable in ways that make perfect sense. This type of discussion can lead to new, often novel, approaches that have broader, more meaningful implications,” he says. “There is an economic development component, because when people have adequate nutrition, safe housing, and accessible healthcare, they can be at their best, they can be self-sustaining, and they can contribute in many ways to the community.”

In a perfect world, Bruce says, everyone has fair access to what they need. “If somebody needs help, they get help. If somebody needs food, they get food. If somebody needs more secure housing, that is provided,” he says. “But there is so much to do now. There are so many people with immediate needs. We have to pursue meaningful solutions. There is no time to spend thinking about what utopia looks like.”

With their legacy gift, the Shermans will support Second Harvest in strengthening and developing lasting solutions to building food-secure communities into the future.

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As you make plans for the year ahead, consider how your legacy can reflect the care you show today. By including Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC in your will or as a beneficiary designation, you can help ensure that future generations have access to the food and opportunities everyone deserves. Getting started is easier than you might think.

Second Harvest offers FreeWill, a free, secure, and easy-to-use online tool that helps you create (or renew) your estate plan.

Visit Second Harvest at FreeWill