Words by Smiley Team
Operation Food Search (OFS) a non-profit hunger relief organization based in St Louis, Missouri, will host its 10th annual Shop Out Hunger Day on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The region-wide food drive is held to restock the shelves of both its distribution center located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd. and its 220 community food partner agencies.
Volunteers will be staffed outside of approximately 100 locally owned grocery stores – including Schnucks and Straub’s – collecting non-perishable food items and donations that will stay in each store’s community. OFS is teaming up with numerous community partners including the Community Council of St. Charles, Jefferson County Hunger Task Force, and Franklin County Hunger Task Force.
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the non-profit with demand growing even higher for its services.
“The current climate makes this year’s annual food drive more crucial than ever before,” said Operation Food Search Executive Director Kristen Wild. “We are extremely fortunate to have the support of our grocery and community partners, particularly during the summertime when food donations are typically low.”
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) provides food and nutrition education. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families with a range of programs and services proven to reduce food insecurity and increase access to healthy and affordable food.
The agency helps feed more than 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of which are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 31 Missouri and Illinois counties.
Volunteers are needed to greet customers and collect donations at various grocery store partners located in Missouri (Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln, St. Francois, St. Louis Counties, and St. Louis City) and Illinois (St. Clair, Marion, Jackson, and Madison Counties).
For further details on volunteering or donating food, call (314) 726-5355.
