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

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken and Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill have launched the "Countdown to Thanksgiving" initiative, a community food collection effort running through November 21 to support St. Louis families facing food insecurity. The partnership brings together all 15 Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations and 9 Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill locations across the St. Louis region to collect non-perishable food items for Operation Food Search, a local nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger and improving access to nutritious food.

The timing of this initiative addresses what organizers describe as urgent community needs during the holiday season. Guests can donate items such as canned vegetables, beans, pasta, rice, peanut butter, and boxed meals at any participating location. Those who contribute 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, with additional 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."

This holiday initiative builds upon Lee's ongoing partnership with GiftAMeal, a year-round program that turns guest dining experiences into meals for local families. The program allows guests to scan a QR code found inside Lee's restaurants or on select packaging, which opens a mobile web experience where they can take a photo of their meal to trigger a donation providing groceries to a nearby food bank. Sharing the photo on social media generates additional meals, creating an accessible way for customers to contribute to hunger relief efforts.

The collaboration represents a significant mobilization of local business resources to address food insecurity through multiple channels. While the "Countdown to Thanksgiving" focuses on direct food donations through November 21, the GiftAMeal program provides ongoing support throughout the year. St. Louis residents and Lee's guests nationwide can continue supporting local food banks via the GiftAMeal platform, ensuring that every meal enjoyed at Lee's contributes to feeding families in need.

This coordinated effort demonstrates how restaurant chains can leverage their physical locations and customer interactions to create meaningful community impact. By combining immediate holiday assistance with sustainable, technology-enabled giving programs, the initiative addresses both short-term seasonal needs and long-term food insecurity challenges in the St. Louis region.