The Impact of OFS’s Emergency Response 2020
Operation Food Search (OFS) has been able to respond quickly o the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis with the help of our incredible partners and donors. Learn more about our recent work to get food to children and families and stay tuned for more Stories from the Front Line.
Community Impact
Beyond our normal food distribution, which helps 200,000 people per month, OFS is getting additional nutritious meals to tens of thousands of children and families each week during the current crisis.
We partner with school districts and numerous community organizations—including the St. Louis County Library, the Urban League and Beyond Housing—to offer drive-thru meal pick up, which extends our reach to those people in the community who need help the most.
Channel 9 Living St. Louis (PBS) recently featured our meal distribution to families. WATCH HERE.
Creative Contributions
From porch concerts to hand sanitizer, here are just a few ways the OFS community has found unique ways to help!
Ultramarathon in Forest Park
Tim Burke, a 51-year-old marathoner, ran 100 miles through Forest Park on Saturday to benefit OFS. The 24-hour half-road/half-path run raised more than $35,000 through Tim’s Go Fund Me page!
Stimulus Surprise
Some donors have sent us donations equal to their stimulus checks, which was both a generous gesture and a welcome surprise. One donor wrote: “Please use my stimulus money to help feed as many people as you can who are in need during this terrible crisis.”
Front Yard Food Drive
An OFS Community Food Partner Agency, Caring and Sharing, is receiving extra donations, thanks to its executive director, Janie Bickham. She has held a food drive in front of her house for the last two weeks, collecting non-perishable food for those in need. Neighbors, friends and people from all over have come to donate food.
Hand Sanitizer
A scientist from the Danforth Plant Science Center has used her lab to make a hand sanitizer and cleaner, which she bottled and donated to us!
March Madness
One donor converted her gambling to good by donating to OFS when March Madness was cancelled. As she wrote, “I usually waste this money betting; I figured it would do a lot more good this way!”
Birthday Facebook Fundraiser
This brave healthcare hero asked her friends to donate to Operation Food Search for her birthday! We are truly grateful for all the generous supporters who have chosen to give to us this way.
Sawyer’s Sixth Birthday
A car parade helped celebrate Sawyer’s sixth birthday recently, but instead of getting presents, Sawyer asked that everyone donate to Operation Food Search! We appreciate that the youngest among us are often the most considerate. Thank you, Sawyer!
Drive Thru Starbucks
Three industrious siblings, ages 3, 5 and 7, made espresso drinks in the driveway one Sunday morning because they wanted to raise money for kids in need of food. They raised $217.78 for the Parkway Food Pantry and Operation Food Search. Now they want to do it every Sunday. Their mother joked, “Maybe instead of homeschooling we will just teach them about how to run a small business!”
Live Porch Concert
Singer and musician Jim Ford plays live on Facebook every Saturday at 2 p.m., holding a concert on his front porch to benefit OFS. According to Jim, “My singing partner Steve and I met at a school and we both taught for many, many years. It breaks our hearts to see so many children who have no access to the school lunch programs. We are asking folks, if they have some extra funds, to please support this Saint Louis ministry who will see that our children get fed.”
Virtual Trivia Night
Plan-to-Plate held a trivia night featuring “funny foods” on Facebook Live, with proceeds benefiting OFS. Learn more on Facebook/PlanToPlateApp.
GiftAMeal #STLMade Selfie Challenge
Our partner, GiftAMeal, which enables diners to provide a meal to someone in need every time they post a picture of their own meal, is now donating to OFS every time someone posts a picture with the hashtag #STLMade! Learn more about this innovative app at GiftAMeal.com.
