Wallis Companies Raise $50,000 for Operation Food Search

Wallis Companies, one of the leading petroleum marketers in the U.S., recently raised $50,000 for Operation Food Search (OFS), a non-profit hunger relief organization. The donation was driven by sales of the Grab and Go fresh food items, which are produced daily at their local commissary operation. The promotion was designed to help commissary staff remain employed during the downturn in customer visits to On the Run following the stay at home orders.

Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will benefit OFS’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which ensures children ages 18 years of age and younger continue receiving nutritious meals when school is not in session. The program’s mobile meal vans serve six locations via two routes, and there are 40 stationary meal service locations including St. Louis County, St. Louis Public and St. Charles City-County Libraries. SFSP runs through Aug. 22 with availability Mon. through Sat.

“We appreciate our customers purchasing our great fresh food products and our team at Wallis for being there every day to serve our customers. This collaboration has made it possible for us to partner with Operation Food Search and bring more resources to those in need,” stated Lynn Wallis, President of Wallis Companies and On the Run.

“The summer months are especially difficult for those families who are already experiencing food insecurity,” said OFS Executive Director Kristen Wild. “Our agency’s task to provide assistance can become particularly overwhelming during this time, so we appreciate the generosity of community partners like Wallis Companies who create innovative ways to support our organization and enable us to continue our year-round work.”

Pictured from left to right are OFS Communications Manager Jocelyn Fundoukos; OFS Executive Director Kristen Wild; Wallis Companies Executive Vice President Tracey Hughes; OFS Director of Development Ellen Reed-Fox; Wallis Companies President Lynn Wallis; Wallis Companies Director of Food Service Chris Vestal; and OFS Front Office Administrator Bridget Brooks.

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization that provides food and nutrition education. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families with a range of programs and services proven to reduce food insecurity and increase access to healthy and affordable food. The agency helps feed more than 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of which are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 31 Missouri and Illinois counties. For more information, call (314) 726-5355 or visit www.OperationFoodSearch.org.