OFS “Feed the Dream” initiative supports local communities in honor of MLK

ByLocal Sources Reading Time: 3 minutes

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, OFS has launched “Feed The Dream,” a January food drive dedicated to supporting local hunger relief organizations and putting service into action.

Recognized as a National Day of Service, Martin Luther King Jr. Day calls on individuals and organizations to move beyond reflection and actively serve their communities.

Inspired by Dr. King’s words, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,” the Feed The Dream initiative reflects OFS’ commitment to creating meaningful impact through simple, collective acts of service that strengthen local communities.

“When Yonna and I were invited to develop an initiative in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we wanted it to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. While the spirit of giving is often most visible during the holidays, the need exists year-round,” said Barbie Thomas, Tennessee District Sales Manager and Community and Culture Committee Member. “Feed the Dream is deeply personal to us as it reflects our commitment to create change through meaningful action, honoring Dr. King’s legacy. By coming together to support local food pantries, we are reminded that each of us can make a difference in our own communities.”

Held from January 5 to 19, teams across the country were encouraged to collect nonperishable food items and donate them to food pantries and community organizations in their own areas.

While the drive was organized through the workplace, its reach extended beyond company walls, with many teams inviting community connections to take part. Food, essential items, and monetary donations were delivered to local food shelters and pantries on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. By keeping donations local, each participating group directly supported neighbors and community members experiencing food insecurity.

  • Feed The Dream by the numbers:
  • 24 participating teams/ locations across the country
  • 11 local organizations supported, including Shared Abundance, Community Action Center, Jasper Food Bank, Helping Hands of High Point, Nourishing Hope, Capital Area Food Bank, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Knox Pride Food Pantry System, NY Common Pantry, Mission Oak Cliff, and St. Francis Center Los Angeles.

“At OFS, our commitment to community and culture extends beyond the workplace. Feed the Dream puts that commitment into action by supporting local food pantries and community organizations. Through this effort, employees across the country came together around shared values of service, inclusion, and care for the communities where we live and work,” said John Becher, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Head of the Community and Culture Committee.

Feed The Dream reflected a shared commitment to service, responsibility, and community care. Rather than a single centralized effort, the drive was built on many small acts of generosity that together made a meaningful impact. Through this collective effort, participants helped ensure food reached local organizations in need, reinforcing the idea that service begins within one’s own community.

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