Mercy has donated $38,500 to Operation Food Search to fund a MetroMarket stop at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Head Start in Jennings. The stop operates 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays
This marks the third consecutive season that Mercy has funded stops and provided vouchers for the MetroMarket program. Both Mercy and the Urban League of Greater St. Louis are longstanding partners of OFS, consistently supporting initiatives that combat food insecurity in the community.
“As both a board member of OFS and an executive at Mercy, I’ve committed my professional life to helping eliminate health disparities for underserved populations,” said Dara Webb, Patient Care Services vice president.
“I’m grateful to be a part of two organizations that are collaborating to benefit the community by getting fresh produce into more homes.”
OFS’s MetroMarket program utilizes a reconfigured St. Louis City MetroBus and newly acquired Farmers Truck to travel to areas with limited access to nutritious food. This innovative approach allows community members to shop for affordable, high-quality groceries at significantly lower prices than retail stores.
“Operation Food Search is proud to partner with Mercy and the Urban League to address critical community needs,” said Kristen Wild, OFS president and CEO.
“Mercy’s generosity is incredibly helpful during a year when the MetroMarket program is expanding to serve even more people.”
In addition to delivering food, the MetroMarket program offers recipe tastings, nutrition education, and other community nutrition initiatives, all designed to promote healthier lifestyles.
The schedule for MetroMarket’s neighborhood visits and pop-up markets is available at https://stlmetromarket.org/schedule.