Operation Food Search Hosts 18th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser

ST. LOUIS - Nov. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- Operation Food Search (OFS) will host its 18^th annual "Empty Bowls" fundraiser in the Center Court of Plaza Frontenac located at 1701 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in Frontenac, Mo.  The event will be held Fri., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.  The empty bowls signify hunger in our community and bring light to this important issue.  All proceeds from the sales of these handcrafted pottery items will benefit OFS's hunger relief efforts.

The fundraiser will be held in conjunction with National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, which is always the week before Thanksgiving.  It was created to show compassion to those who are experiencing homelessness, as well as to work toward a world where no one has to experience hunger and homelessness.

Many local artists and studios have created bowls and other art items for sale at the "Empty Bowls" event including Bob Allen, Marianne Baer, and Bridget McDermott Flood.  Participating St. Louis students and faculty include Chaminade College Preparatory School, Christian Brothers College High School, Lindbergh High School, MICDS, Parkway West High School, St. Joseph's Academy, St. Louis Community College – Forest Park, St. Louis Community College – Meramec, and Whitfield School.

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.

OFS 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, as well as in the city of St. Louis.  For every dollar donated, OFS provides $21 worth of food and nutrition services to support the area's hungry.

"This fundraiser truly raises the awareness of hunger during the very difficult holiday season," said Operation Food Search Executive Director Sunny Schaefer.  "Our community's local artists and students are making a difference by joining our agency in the fight to end hunger and homelessness, and we appreciate their support in this ongoing quest."

Operation Food Search is located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd.  For more information, call (314) 726-5355 or visit www.OperationFoodSearch.org.