Empowering Youth: SCLC and Operation Food Search Unite to Combat Childhood Hunger

Starting August 19, 2025, the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) will team up with Operation Food Search (OFS) to offer free after-school meals for kids aged 5-18 at four library branches. Each branch will provide a light, healthy meal and engaging activities from Monday to Friday throughout the school year.

The participating branches are:

• Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63136 – Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121 – Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Prairie Commons Branch, 915 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, MO 63042 – Monday-Friday, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
• Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Road, St. Louis, MO 63123 – Monday-Friday, 2:45-4:00 p.m.

This collaboration aims to combat food insecurity, which affects many families in the area. Last year, SLCL and OFS provided over 50,000 meals. Food insecurity has been a growing concern, particularly since the pandemic, highlighting the need for programs like this.

In addition to this initiative, SLCL will also host a “Tech Talks: Scams and Shams” session at the Weber Road Branch on Monday, August 11, at 10 a.m. This workshop will help participants recognize common scams and offer tips on how to protect themselves.

A recent report from the Pew Research Center underscores the importance of this session. Released on July 31, 2025, the study found significant disparities in scam awareness across different racial and ethnic groups. While 75% of white adults reported being well-informed about avoiding scams, only 59% of Hispanic Americans and 66% of Black and Asian Americans felt the same way. Alarmingly, around 30% of Black or Hispanic adults experienced multiple forms of scams, compared to 18% of white adults.

Age also plays a role in awareness. Among younger adults (ages 18-29), 78% reported a good understanding of online scams, while that number dropped to 64% for those aged 65 and older.

This workshop isn’t just timely; it reflects a pressing need to educate the community about online safety and security.

For more information about the after-school meals program, check out SLCL’s website.

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