St. Louis Restaurants Launch 'Countdown to Thanksgiving' Food Drive to Combat Hunger

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken has partnered with Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill to launch "Countdown to Thanksgiving," a St. Louis community initiative running through November 21 to help local families in need. The food collection effort spans all 15 Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations and 9 Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill locations across the St. Louis region, where guests can donate non-perishable food items such as canned vegetables, beans, pasta, rice, peanut butter, and boxed meals.

All contributions will support Operation Food Search, a St. Louis-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger and improving access to nutritious food in the community. Donors receive a complimentary Coca-Cola beverage and can enter to win $100 gift cards from both restaurant chains, as well as four home game hockey tickets through support from Coca-Cola and 101 ESPN Radio.

"The need across our community is urgent, and the team at Operation Food Search is working tirelessly to continue their incredible efforts supporting families across our region," said Dan Sokolik, Vice President of Marketing at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken. "We're proud to stand with our friends at Hotshots and our partners at Coca-Cola to help St. Louis families feel supported this Thanksgiving."

The initiative represents part of Lee's larger mission to bring comfort and care to the communities it serves, complementing the company's year-round program with GiftAMeal. Through this ongoing partnership, guests can turn their dining experiences into meals for local families by scanning the GiftAMeal QR code found inside Lee's restaurants or on select packaging. The scan opens a mobile web experience where guests can take a photo of their meal to trigger a donation that provides groceries to a nearby food bank.

Sharing the photo on social media helps provide even more meals, making it an easy way for guests to contribute to hunger relief efforts. St. Louis residents and Lee's guests nationwide can continue supporting local food banks throughout the year through GiftAMeal, ensuring that every meal enjoyed at Lee's contributes to feeding families in need. This multi-faceted approach to addressing food insecurity demonstrates how businesses can leverage their resources and customer relationships to make meaningful impacts in their communities.