Most Needed Food Drive Donations

Operation Food Search (OFS)

Date/Time: Non-perishable donations can be dropped off 24 hours a day in the white donation bin outside our warehouse. Perishable donations can be dropped off at our warehouse Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m.

Location: Operation Food Search Warehouse, 1644 Lotsie Blvd., St. Louis.

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Everyone can help.

There are several great ways your family can help OFS. Host a food and/or fund drive, or just drop off some much-needed items at our warehouse! The following is our most needed food drive donation list:

Pop-top cans are especially appreciated.

• Chicken, light tuna, and salmon (canned or pouches).
• Canned chicken soup, chili, and stews with meat or beans.
• Canned fruit (in natural juices).
• Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and canned spaghetti sauces (low sodium appreciated).
• Canned beans (low sodium appreciated).
• Instant brown rice and whole wheat pasta.
• Boxed meal kits.
• Canned vegetables.
• Dried spices: chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and basil.
• Deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

Note: Please do not donate items in glass containers or ramen noodles

Contact: volunteer@operationfoodsearch.org.

www.operationfoodsearch.org

Foster a Pet

Humane Society of Missouri

Date/Time: Ongoing need.

Location: Your home.

Ages: Families are welcome to foster. The foster volunteer on file must be at least 18 years old.

Time Commitment: The time commitment for fostering varies. Depending upon the animals’ needs, a foster placement could be a week to eight weeks or more. Foster families choose which animals they’d like to foster, and we work with the time you have available. Our foster coordinator will call you when a need arises, and you can accept or decline the placement.

Foster families open up their homes and hearts to animals in need. The Humane Society of Missouri’s (HSMO) Foster Care Program is all about providing second chances. This program places animals in temporary homes until they are ready to find their forever homes. Foster families provide an opportunity to raise and socialize shelter pets, from abused and neglected animals to those displaced due to disasters and unforeseen emergencies. Your family can foster pets and provide love and care to animals in your own home. Foster families decide when, how long, and what animals they foster. All food, medical care, and supplies are provided by HSMO. Emergency Care foster parents are also needed to provide emergency lodging and care during times of disaster. Learn more here.

Contact: Macklind Ave Headquarters: Sue Alkire, salkire@hsmo.org. Best Buddy Center-Maryland Heights: Julie Stoffiel, julie.stofiel@hsmo.org.

www.hsmo.org

Shelter Buddies Reading Program

Humane Society of Missouri

Date/Time(s): Check the website for available dates and times. Once you attend one 90-minute training session, you will be given a schedule of available reading hours. Then you can come read for as little or as long as you'd like during designated hours, available seven days a week.

Location(s):

• Macklind Ave Headquarters, 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis.
• Maryland Heights Best Buddy Center, 11660 Administration Dr., St. Louis.

Ages: Kind kids ages 6–15 years old.

Time Commitment: One-and-a-half-hour training session. Once you attend a training session, you will be given a schedule of available reading hours. You can come read for as little or as long as you’d like during designated hours, available seven days a week.

Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. Our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through our rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs, and educational classes. The Shelter Buddies Reading Program was designed to help our shelter dogs become more adoptable. Reading to the dogs helps bring comfort to and reduce the anxiety of shelter pets, and it nurtures empathy in children. Participants sit outside of the dog's kennel and read to them. Reading helps shy dogs learn to relax around people and teaches high-energy dogs that calm behavior is desirable. When children tell stories to the dogs, it also helps them develop their own reading skills! Closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes are required to protect your feet and give better traction when walking through the animal wings. You are welcome to bring a favorite book; however, we do have a library of over 100 animal-themed books from which to choose. Learn more online.

Contact: 314.951.1579 or shelterbuddies@hsmo.org. Please note: training is $10 per child. One parent is required to attend the training and must accompany the child every time they come to read. Training session registration is available online.

www.hsmo.org

Greatest Needs List

Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis

Date/Time: Donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Location: Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis, 2055 Concourse Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Varies

Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis serves families facing housing instability, hunger, and crisis—walking alongside them with compassion, dignity, and support when they need it most. Every day, their doors open to parents working to rebuild, children who deserve stability, individuals who need caring friends, and those struggling with food insecurity. Your family can help by donating items from their Greatest Needs List. Learn more here.

Contact: Emily Koenegstein, ekoenegstein@loavesandfishes-stl.org, 314.291.3857.

www.loavesandfishes-stl.org

Veterans Day 5K

St. Patrick Center

Date/Time: Saturday, November 7. The race starts at 9 a.m. Fan club volunteers are needed from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Location: Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis

Ages: All ages may volunteer for the fan club

Time Commitment: Varies.

The 11th Annual Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk brings together participants of all ages to honor those who have served and support veterans experiencing homelessness in St. Louis. Proceeds benefit Catholic Charities ministry St. Patrick Center, serving more than 800 veterans each year with housing, employment, and long-term stability. Your family can help celebrate at Veterans Day 5K in Downtown St. Louis as fan club volunteers. There are also a variety of race options, including a Kids Dash at 9 a.m. 

Contact: communications@stpatrickcenter.org or davidpardue@stpatrickcenter.org. Click here for the volunteer registration form. Race registration is available online.

stpatrickcenter.org/vet5k

Olivette Turkey Trot 2026

City of Olivette

Date/Time: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26:

• 7–7:45 a.m. Packet pickup
• 7 –7:45 a.m. Walk-up registration
• 8 a.m. 5K Run/Walk start
• 9 a.m. Tiny Trot (Kids Fun Run)
• 9:05 a.m. Awards/prizes

Location: The race begins and ends at Stacy Park.

Ages: Everyone can participate

Time Commitment: Varies

Olivette’s Annual 5K Turkey Trot will be a chip-timed event with 2,000+ participants expected. This family-friendly 5K run/walk course starts at Stacy Park, runs down scenic Old Bonhomme Road, and then through a paved, tree-lined trail, ending at Stacy Park. Long-sleeve Tech T-shirts, refreshments, and music make the race a fun way to start your Thanksgiving Day! Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome but are asked to start at the back of the pack.

The Olivette Turkey Trot contributes 100% of its proceeds to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Now the largest food pantry in the region, the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry (HKJFP) annually serves more than 15,000 people from 72 different zip codes throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County. The HKJFP provides at least 10 days of food, including kosher options, and personal care items to more than 6,000 children, adults, and seniors every month.. Learn more about the race here.

Contact: Registration is available online. Click here for packet pick-up information.

www.olivettemo.com/752/Olivette-Turkey-Trot

Turkey Trot STL

St. Charles

Date/Time: Thursday, November 26:

• 5K – 8 a.m.
• 1/2 Mile Kids Run - 9:15 a.m.

Location: The Family Arena, Arena Parkway, Saint Charles.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Kick off your Thanksgiving day right with an active morning, joining thousands of runners and walkers at Turkey Trot STL on America's most popular racing day! Join us for this Thanksgiving tradition by running or walking in the family-friendly Turkey Trot STL 5K at St. Charles Family Arena. Not only will you burn some calories before the big feast, but you'll also be making a difference in our community by supporting local food pantries. Thanks to the generosity of our participants, Turkey Trot STL has donated over $42,000 and 48,000 pounds of canned goods to local food pantries since 2014. Don't miss the chance to be part of a Thanksgiving tradition that's good for you and good for others.

Contact: Registration is available online.

turkeytrotstl.raceroster.com/

Holiday Hero Wishlist

KVC Missouri

Date/Time(s): Donations can be dropped off November 23–25, or from November 30-December 4.

Location: KVC Missouri Office, 330 N. Gore Ave., Webster Groves.

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Every child deserves to feel remembered during the holidays. This holiday season, your family can help make that happen. For youth in foster care, the holidays can come during a time of change as they adjust to a new home, school or community and work toward safely reunifying with their families. Become a Holiday Hero and you’ll get the opportunity to make a child’s wish come true. Receiving gifts they personally chose can help them feel remembered and loved during the holiday season. Holiday Heroes can be individuals, families, churches, community organizations or businesses. After signing up, Holiday Heroes are matched with a child or teen in foster care and get a wish list filled with gifts they’ve personally chosen and are hoping to receive. Holiday heroes shop for those gifts and bring them to a KVC Missouri drop-off location. Families are also welcome to host gift drives or to purchase and deliver holiday gifts from our Holiday Wish List. 

Contact: Angela Doerr, adoerr@kvc.org. Learn more and sign-up here to become a Holiday Hero.

missouri.kvc.org/

Native Tree Planting at St. Louis Place Park

Great Rivers Greenway

Date/Time: Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m.-noon.

Location: 2930 North 21st Street, St. Louis. Please park along either side of the St. Louis Place Playground on North 21st Street or Raucschenbach Avenue

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate.

Time Commitment: Three hours.

Celebrate St. Louis Place Park by helping us plant native trees and grow the tree canopy in St. Louis! Join us as we plant trees that will provide shade, beauty, and habitat. 

No experience is needed; Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Great Rivers Greenway, and St. Louis City Forestry staff will teach volunteers how to properly plant native trees.

What to wear: Please dress for the weather and bundle up. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. 

What to bring: All tools will be provided for this event. Please bring a water bottle to help us reduce plastic waste. Light snacks and water will be provided. 

Contact: Bryn Blackburn, bblackburn@grgstl.org. Registration is available online.

greatriversgreenway.org

Treats for Troops

Soldiers' Angels

Date/Time: You can start donating excess candy right after Halloween through the month of November!

Location(s): Most Candy Collection sites host their collections starting on November 1 and run through the first weeks of November. Check back after Halloween to find a location near you! You may drop off a personal amount of candy (no more than 10 pounds). If there are no collection sites near you, please ship your candy (no more than 10 pounds) to our headquarters in San Antonio:

Soldiers’ Angels Candy

1355 Central Parkway S, Ste 700

San Antonio, TX 78232

Ages: Everyone can share their candy!

Time Commitment: Varies.

Families with too much candy after Halloween can donate excess candy to support a good cause. Kids may even earn buyback prizes for their generosity, and families will receive a tax-deductible receipt for their donations. 

You can also help at any time by making candy bags to send to Soldiers’ Angels. Here’s how to participate:

• Get some fun-size candy (this is also a great use for excess candy after holidays like Halloween, Easter, etc.).
• Using a treat bag or clear plastic baggie, place an assortment of candy in the baggie and secure it with a twist tie or decorative ribbon.
• If you would like, you can also attach a small card to the bag of candy that has a simple message like, “Thank you for your service!”

Learn more about creating candy bags here.

Contact: tft@soldiersangels.org or 210.629.0020.

soldiersangels.org