Operation Food Search
We are honored to partner with Operation Food Search once again! Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization that provides free food, nutrition education, and innovative programs proven to reduce food insecurity. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families and increases access to healthy and affordable food. The agency provides food and services to 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of whom are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 27 Missouri and Illinois counties.
Metro Theater Company is hosting an OFS food drive during the run of Seedfolks. Bring non-perishable food items to any of our in-person performances at the Grandel Theatre and place them in the marked blue barrels. Thank you for helping heal the hurt of hunger.
Learn more about the pillars of Operation Food Search.
We asked Operation Food Search Director of Communications Jocelyn Fundoukos some questions about how the need for food donations has changed, how OFS helps young people, and more.
How has the need for food donations changed over the last year?
Although we have seen some relief from the need at the height of the pandemic, different problems have emerged. Inflation is a big issue, and it hits lower-income households hardest. Nearly all their budgets go to necessities — food, energy, housing — which have seen some of the largest price increases recently.
Food donations are down AND food prices are up, so it has a compounding effect.
Supply chains continue to be disrupted. Those who are first in line get what they want, and it’s even more difficult for others.
There is less on the shelf and getting to the store costs more—if you even have transportation.
Agencies are seeing an increase in need.
How does Operation Food Search help young people?
OFS places a high priority on addressing food insecurity in children. The impact of hunger on kids can be devastating to their growth and development. But conversely, the opportunity to have a positive influence on them is greater too. We have a number of ways of getting nutritious food to young people:
We provide meals for kids when school is not in session. Children who rely on school meals are at risk for hunger after school, during the summer and over the weekends. Our child nutrition programs—AfterSchool ReFuel, Summer Meals, and Operation Backpack address these needs and ensure that kids are ready to learn, play and develop.
We also work to increase the number of kids who eat breakfast at school. We’ve been doing research and offering technical assistance to schools so they can implement innovative models that get more kids to eat breakfast. These are “breakfast after the bell” formats that either put grab-n-go breakfasts on kiosks or allow kids to eat breakfast in the classroom. Studies show that students who eat breakfast perform better on tests, have better attendance records, and visit the school nurse less often.
Finally, we have innovative programs that are looking at ways to improve health outcomes through nutrition and supportive services. We’re doing a pilot with St. Louis Children’s hospital to get food and services to adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and their families to make the case that “food is medicine.”
In 2021, Operation Backpack provided over 589,000 meals to students in 338 schools in 15 counties.
Besides participating in a food drive, how can families help support your mission?
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from helping in our warehouse to gleaning, which is rescuing produce from farms that would otherwise be wasted. We rely on our dedicated volunteers, whose support saves us as much as $1 million a year through their contributed hours.
Of course, financial donations are always appreciated. Because we can leverage our relationships with food donors, every dollar donated provides $10 in food and services. So just one dollar can feed someone for an entire day!
Thank you for bringing food items to donate at Metro Theater Company performances of Seedfolks at the Grandel Theatre! Join us for this family friendly production, Oct 9-Nov 6.