June 2026 (ST. LOUIS) – Operation Food Search (OFS) is pleased to announce a $40,000 grant from the Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Foundation to support its Childhood Hunger Relief programs, which provide a year-round food safety net for children experiencing food insecurity across the Greater St. Louis region.
The funds will support Operation Backpack, Summer Meals, and Afterschool ReFuel — three programs that together address the damaging effects of hunger gaps during non-school hours, including weekends, summer break, and after school. This fiscal year, OFS plans to provide 805,120 meals to 15,498 children through 375 partner schools and organizations across 14 Missouri and Illinois counties.
The need for these programs has never been greater. OFS is already seeing significantly higher demand for food assistance following the 2025 tornado that devastated multiple under-resourced St. Louis City neighborhoods, a 30% increase in grocery prices between 2021 and 2025, and ongoing eligibility changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that are expected to impact an estimated 150,000 Missourians, many of them children.
“Good nutrition and steady meals early in life have a profound impact on lifelong health, school readiness, and economic opportunity,” said OFS President and CEO Kristen Wild. “The Pott Foundation’s continued generosity helps us ensure that children in our community have the nourishment and hope they need to thrive.”
This marks the fourth consecutive year the Pott Foundation has supported OFS’s childhood hunger programs, reflecting a deep and sustained commitment to the well-being of St. Louis’s most vulnerable children.
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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 Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Foundation
The Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Foundation was established to support charitable organizations serving the St. Louis region. The foundation has a long history of investing in children, education, community health, human services, and programs that improve quality of life.
Media Contacts:
Amanda Galloway | amanda@amandacookpr.com | (314) 598-0544
Lisa Brown | Lisa.Brown@OperationFoodSearch.org | (314) 944-6159
