Truck Centers Inc. recently hosted its first can drive for Operation Food Search, the St. Louis bi-state area’s largest supplier of food products for shelters and food banks. The dealership’s headquarters in Troy, Ill., kicked off a one-month can drive for OFS.
Each month, Operation Food Search distributes more than 2 million pounds of food and necessities to 265 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters in 31 Missouri and Illinois counties. Their efforts help feed about 150,000 people every month, and nearly half of those recipients are children.
In one month, TCI’s Troy team was able to prove that “One CAN Make a Difference” by having 1,559 products available for Operation Food Search. The executive team provided 397 large gallon- and family-sized cans that were displayed in a Christmas tree in the service lobby, and team members donated 1,162 cans that each will receive a $1 match from TCI for an additional $1,162 for Operation Food Search’s ongoing service to the area’s needy.
The family-owned dealership also added a competition between departments for the highest average of cans per department. Each member of the winning team received a $10 gift card or the opportunity to also donate the winnings to OFS. The 26 men and women of the Troy body shop donated an average of 14.77 cans per person. Body Shop Manager Kent Zobrist also covered the donation for the team’s proceeds to benefit Operation Food Search, which allowed the team members to receive their gift cards.
