Together We’re Delivering Relief – and Hope
In the wake of the devastating tornado, your generosity has already made a difference. You answered the call to provide relief for families in the hardest-hit areas, enabling us to respond swiftly to the growing need for food and other resources.
At a May 22 distribution event, we joined our partners from the St. Louis County Library, Delmar DivINe, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, and Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief to provide:
- 7,125 diapers
- 187 flow kits (period supplies)
- 452 boxes of non-perishable supplies
- 500 hot meals
- And every last piece of fresh produce from MetroMarket was taken home by grateful families
Many people also came to drop off donations and other supplies during the event!
In total, 21 pantries in our network are in the area affected by the storm. We’re working to restock them and keep MetroMarket on the move with nutritious food and critical supplies.
The week following the storm, several agencies without power were grilling hamburgers and hot dogs outside to feed neighbors. What amazing commitment in difficult circumstances! OFS purchased charcoal, meat, buns, and condiments to assist.
We’ve had incredible support from other partners, as well. Russo’s Catering has kindly offered to donate hot meals to OFS community food partners. Our staff delivered Russo’s hot meals to St. Louis Empowerment Center and West Central Church, and box lunches to Elmwood Memorial Church Food Pantry.
Propel Kitchens donated 18 half-pans of baked ziti to be given away by MetroMarket at a stop at People’s Health Center.
These dedicated community partners have stepped up to support OFS’s emergency response efforts: Berges Family Foundation — $50,000; United Way of Greater St. Louis—$50,000; Post Holdings—$25,000; and Missouri Foundation for Health—$10,000. Special thanks to these steadfast supporters of hunger relief during this critical time.
How You Can Help:
1. Drop Off Most-Needed Items
Now through June 27, Bank of America is hosting a collection drive at 30 of their locations for urgently needed supplies. These will go directly to families via our mobile markets. You can also make an ONLINE DONATION.
You can also drop off shelf-stable food items at Plaza Frontenac, where blue OFS bins will be on hand from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 22.
See a list of most-needed items here.
2. Donate Items from Our Wishlist
With a few clicks, you can get essential supplies to neighbors in need. Our wishlist is set up via this Amazon link.
3. Make a Gift
Your contribution helps us deliver food, supplies, and compassion to those rebuilding their lives. Gift amounts of any size are needed and appreciated!
Together, we’re delivering more than food—we’re delivering hope. Your donations fuel our disaster response, outreach programs, and daily operations. Thank you for being part of a community of caring!mped in with a gift of $25,000. They are both dedicated partners and friends!
Operation Backpack Helps Power Emergency Distributions
To address the need for nutritious food for children at risk of hunger, our Operation Backpack (OBP) program has responded by redeploying food to areas of greatest need. The food purchased for Operation Backpack—originally designated for weekend meals for kids at risk of hunger—has become an essential source of immediate relief now that schools are out for the summer.
- At O’Fallon Park YMCA, we supplied 400 OBP boxes to ActionSTL, each full of shelf-stable food like cereal, milk, soup, fruit, and more.
- At Delmar DivINe, a coordinated effort with St. Louis County Library, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief, and the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank saw 500 OBP bags distributed to families.
- We’re also diverting more kid-friendly food to pantries like Centennial Christian Church, as families continue to recover.
Mobile Market, Maximum Impact
MetroMarket has played a vital role in our storm response, transforming into a “pantry on wheels” for regular stops in the areas most impacted. OFS staff and volunteers have been working hard to pivot service in those areas so that food and supplies can given away at no cost.
- MetroMarket’s Farmers Truck has been stocked with shelf-stable food and other supplies, serving the communities where grocery access remains limited.
- At Wesley House, OFS brought ready-to-eat meals and staples to families in need.
- The MetroMarket service model continues to be adjusted according to the needs of the community.
Learn more about MetroMarket’s current schedule here.
Partner Highlight: Delivering More Than Prescriptions
Our partnership with Greater Health Pharmacy has been essential in bringing both food and medicine to those affected by the storm. We’re working together to facilitate doorstep delivery of shelf-stable food in the impacted areas.
Featured in the news:
We’re proud to partner with organizations that go above and beyond to meet urgent needs with compassion and care.
