June 2026 (ST. LOUIS) – Operation Food Search (OFS) has again received a grant from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., this year in the amount of $120,000. The gift continues Bayer Fund’s multi-year support of the Nourishing Healthy Starts program, which is designed to improve health outcomes of expectant mothers and their babies through proper nutrition.
Nourishing Healthy Starts connects pregnant women experiencing food insecurity with a maternal health advocate and provides weekly fresh produce and grocery boxes, cooking classes, safety net enrollment assistance, and connections to community and medical resources. Food-insecure pregnant women face increased risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, and delivery complications, while their infants are more likely to be born early or underweight. Low-birthweight deliveries cost an estimated $44,000 more than healthy births.
“Providing good nutrition during pregnancy is an investment in both the mother’s and baby’s health,” said Kristen Wild, President and CEO of OFS. “Bayer Fund’s continued and generous support is helping us create positive outcomes for participants that can have life-long impact, and we are deeply grateful for their steadfast commitment to this work.”
Since the program launched, approximately 90% of babies born to participating mothers have been delivered at a healthy birth weight. This fiscal year, the program aims to serve 160 women and approximately 300 of their household members. OFS also partners with Washington University to study the program with a goal of developing a sustainable, scalable model that can be replicated by other hunger relief organizations and maternal health providers, with data collection scheduled to conclude in March 2027.
“This grant is part of Bayer Fund’s continued support for food and nutrition programs in communities across the United States,” said Amy Simpson, director of philanthropy and community impact at Bayer Fund. “We are proud to support Operation Food Search in advancing healthier pregnancies and stronger starts for mothers and babies across the St. Louis community.”
Bayer Fund develops programs and makes strategic investments in qualified nonprofit organizations tackling big challenges — including combatting malnutrition and food insecurity and providing support services for patients and families managing cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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About Operation Food Search
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Operation Food Search is a local, independent hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger. For more information, call (314) 726-5355 or visit www.OperationFoodSearch.org.
About Bayer Fund
Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education, and health and wellness projects. For more information, visit https://www.fund.bayer.us.
Media Contacts:
Amanda Galloway | amanda@amandacookpr.com | (314) 598-0544
Lisa Brown | Lisa.Brown@OperationFoodSearch.org | (314) 944-6159
Nicole Hayes | Nicole.Hayers@bayer.com | (201) 421-5268
