By General Tso's Organization
Published 3 min read
When the government shutdown left many government employees furloughed in the fall of 2025, a local kitchen stepped up. On October 6, 2025, General Tso's Restaurant & Catering, the founding partner of General Tso's Organization, launched a campaign called "We Serve Those Who Serve."
The goal was to provide warm, affordable meals and community support to furloughed government employees and their families across Greater Atlanta and surrounding areas.
Even when the government shuts down, we don't stop serving. Many of these workers serve our communities year-round, and now it's our turn to serve them.
What the campaign offered
- Discounted meal packages for furloughed employees and their families
- Community catering options for government teams temporarily out of work
- Referral rewards for anyone who helped connect affected people or departments
The message behind it was simple: community care should not stop when paychecks do.
An open invitation to partner
General Tso's also asked for help. The campaign invited local businesses, churches and community leaders to partner and help reach more families during the shutdown. Government employees and community members who needed support were asked to contact the catering team directly.
We believe food is more than a meal — it's comfort, connection, and hope. Together, we can make sure no one feels forgotten.
Why a catering kitchen can help
General Tso's is built for volume. Its 800 sq. ft. kitchen can produce up to 200 meals per hour, and it caters for offices, schools, healthcare facilities and city departments. A kitchen set up that way can feed many people quickly when a community needs it.
In its announcement, General Tso's described itself as a community-focused culinary company committed to delivering quality, comfort and care, one plate at a time.
It is also why General Tso's Organization talks so much about systems. A kitchen with clear SOPs, good data and well-trained staff can do more than stay open. It can show up for its neighbors.
Part of a bigger commitment
We Serve Those Who Serve followed a busy season of giving. In August 2025, General Tso's launched GeneralTsos.org to expand its community giving. The announcement also noted meal donations to the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce for networking events and community programs.
Whether we're serving corporate clients or supporting the community through donations and partnerships, we believe success means lifting others along the way. GeneralTsos.org is our way of making that mission permanent.
In September 2025, General Tso's provided a gourmet meal at the Seniors in Motion DeKalb County Senior Prom and sponsored A Taste of East Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. Altogether, General Tso's has donated more than 19,000 meals.
These moments share a mission with our programs for business owners. When local businesses are strong, they can do more for the people around them.
Ideas any kitchen can use
Many owners want to help their neighbors in hard times but are not sure where to start. The campaign's design offers a few simple ideas:
- Start with what you already do well. For a catering kitchen, that meant meal packages and catering.
- Make help easy to ask for, with one clear way to reach you.
- Invite partners. Churches, businesses and community leaders can help you reach more families.
- Reward referrals, so people who know who is struggling can connect them with you.
None of these ideas needs a big budget. They use what a good restaurant already has: a kitchen, a team and real relationships with the people it serves. Members can bring ideas like these to their mentor. Become a member for free.
Want to help us show up for neighbors? Volunteer, become a partner or make a gift.
Sources
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