Month-long Restaurant Campaign Benefits Operation Food Search

    short_givver_splash_image
    ST. LOUIS, MO. – Operation Food Search, FEAST Magazine and more than 70 top local restaurants are partnering for a delicious restaurant campaign throughout the entire month of July.  Participating restaurants have each created a special tomato-inspired dish to feature on their menu.  Each time the dish is sold during this month-long campaign, Operation Food Search will receive a share of the proceeds to nourish hungry families.  For a list of restaurants and their Tomato Explosion dishes, visit www.OperationFoodsearch.org or www.feaststl.com.
               
    Operation Food Search and FEAST Magazine also are sponsoring a “Tomato Selfie” photo contest.   Entrants may post a photo of themselves or with their table guests enjoying their delicious tomato dishes via Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook using the hashtag #TomatoExplosion to be entered in a contest to win a $100 gift certificate to their favorite participating Tomato Explosion restaurant.  We welcome you to tag Operation Food Search and FEAST Magazine on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook:
    Operation Food Search           Feast Magazine
    –          Twitter:                       @OPFoodSearch                     @feaststl
    –          Facebook:                    /OperationFoodSearch           /feaststl
    –          Instagram:                   /OPFoodSearch                       /feaststl
    “We invite the community to join us in celebrating July’s tomato goodness while helping to heal the hurt of hunger in the St. Louis region,” said Sunny L. Schaefer, Executive Director of Operation Food Search.  “Tomatoes are loaded with valuable nutrients and have several health benefits.  We hope that people will eat out often and try several of the luscious, tomato-inspired dishes created by our restaurant partners.”
    “Diners are encouraged to share their fun by taking ‘tomato selfies’ with their Tomato Explosion dishes and posting them online to inspire others to open their hearts to help nourish our neighbors in need,” said Catherine Neville, Publisher of FEAST Magazine.
    For more information, including a listing of participating Tomato Explosion restaurants, visit www.OperationFoodSearch.org and www.FeastSTL.com
    About Operation Food Search 

    Operation Food Search was established in 1981 to address the growing problem of hunger and has since become the largest distributor of free food in the bi-state area.  The organization distributes 2.75 million pounds of food and household goods each month to 300 community partner agencies and schools, which in turn feed 150,000 poor people each month, nearly one-third of whom are children.  For every dollar donated by individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations, OFS provides $21 worth of food and nutrition services to support the hungry.  To learn more about Operation Food Search, visit www.OperationFoodSearch.org.

     

    About Tomato Explosion
    This annual campaign during the month of July is a tomato-centric partnership between Operation Food Search, FEAST Magazine, and the St. Louis restaurant community.  Beginning with thirteen participating restaurants in 2011, the number of restaurant partners has continued to climb the vine, with more than 70+ restaurants contributing this year.
    Participating restaurants celebrate the peak of tomato season by featuring a tomato-inspired dish on their menu that is designated to Operation Food Search for the entire month of July.  Each time the dish is sold, Operation Food Search receives a portion of the proceeds.  Over the past three years, Tomato Explosion has raised nearly $40,000 to benefit the hunger relief efforts of Operation Food Search.