When & WHERE is the 10/29 food drive?

A Food Drive will take place at City Foundry on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. during the final Live Art Market Fall Encore event, collecting donations to help feed families across the St. Louis region.

Food Drive Drop Offs
Donations can be dropped off at the City Foundry roundabout accessed from Vandeventer.

Parking
FREE Parking is available in the following locations:

• The multi-level garage on the north side of the property off Forest Park Parkway

• The lot on the west side of the property near the Vandeventer Avenue entrance

• The Spring Street lot on the southeastern side of the property (just west of Spring Street)

• Along Forest Park Avenue outside of the garage

Overflow parking is available west of City Foundry.
Carpooling, public transit and ridesharing are encouraged.
The Cortex Metro Stop is .8 miles away.
Paid and free lots can be found within 2 blocks of City Foundry.

WhERE ELSE CAN I DROP OFF FOOD?

Food can be dropped off at Operation Food Search at 1644 Lotsie Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132. Pickups can also be arranged for large donations. Please call 314-726-5355.

Food can also be dropped off at these participating collection sites around town (look for the blue barrels):

City Foundry - Kitchen Bar


STL Fusion Coworking
555 Washington Ave, Suite 310, 63101
9am-2pm

STL Style
3159 Cherokee Street, 63118
10am-5pm

The Fattened Caf

WEPOWER
20 South Sarah Street, 63108
9am-5pm

Other collection sites will be announced as they confirm.

HOW CAN I BECOME A COLLECTION SITE, VOLUNTEER, DONOR OR SPONSOR?

Fill out this form to become a collection site, or support the drive in other ways like volunteering, organizing, sponsoring or promoting.

Operation Food Search will then coordinate directly with collection sites and volunteers, with support from partner organizations as needed.

Collection Sites receive a blue barrel. The first round of donations should be taken to City Foundry between 5:30-9:30 on Wednesday, October 29.

Ongoing donations will be needed and can be delivered directly to Operation Food Search, or sites can collect pickup.

Future bulk drop-off nights will be announced.

WHO IS HOSTING THE FOOD DRIVE?

As Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) services are disrupted, Operation Food Search (OFS), City Foundry and partners are mobilizing an urgent community response to what experts warn could become a severe hunger crisis. 

What are the most needed items?

Most Needed Items (per Operation Food Search):

• Please, no glass containers or ramen noodles

• Pop-top cans are especially appreciated

• Light tuna or salmon (canned or packaged)

• Canned chicken or meat

• Soup, chili, or stews with meat and beans (“a meal in a can”)

• Canned fruit (in natural juices)

• Diced tomatoes or tomato paste

• Canned spaghetti sauces (low sodium preferred)

• Canned beans (low sodium preferred)

• Instant brown rice

• Whole-wheat pasta

• Boxed meal kits

• Canned vegetables

• Dried spices (chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, basil)

• Deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste

What is the urgent need?

The Missouri Department of Social Services recently announced that SNAP benefits will not be distributed in November. With around 650,000 Missourians relying on SNAP benefits each month, this decision will have a profound impact on individuals and families who need SNAP to buy groceries. Many of these households consist of children, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.

“Ninety percent of the food assistance people receive comes from programs like SNAP,” said Kristen V. Wild, president and CEO of Operation Food Search. “We will need significant help from the community to fill that gap.”

With federal food assistance in limbo, organizations like Operation Food Search expect demand for pantry services to surge sharply heading into the holidays. According to the USDA, even a temporary pause in SNAP benefits could leave millions unable to purchase groceries, especially for families with children and seniors on fixed incomes.

WHO is ORGANIZING THIS EFFORT?

This is a joint effort between Operation Food Search, City Foundry, New +Found, St. Louis Magazine, WEPOWER, Pattan & Co. Public Relations, and more organizations to be announced.