Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 04, 2025
Lee's & Hotshots Launch Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Louis
TLDR
- Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken and Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill offer donors complimentary Coca-Cola beverages and entry to win $100 gift cards and hockey tickets.
- Donate non-perishable food items at 15 Lee's or 9 Hotshots locations through November 21 to support Operation Food Search's hunger relief efforts.
- This partnership helps St. Louis families in need access nutritious food during Thanksgiving, strengthening community support and addressing food insecurity.
- Scanning Lee's GiftAMeal QR code turns dining photos into grocery donations for local food banks, making every meal a chance to give back.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses critical food insecurity in the St. Louis region during the holiday season when many families struggle to put meals on the table. Food banks typically experience increased demand during Thanksgiving, making community donations essential for ensuring vulnerable families can celebrate the holiday with dignity. Beyond immediate hunger relief, such programs strengthen community bonds and demonstrate how local businesses can leverage their resources to create meaningful social impact. For residents, this represents an accessible way to contribute to neighbors in need while receiving immediate rewards, creating a win-win scenario that fosters community engagement and support for vital hunger relief organizations like Operation Food Search.
Summary
Lee's Famous Recipe® Chicken, a beloved fried chicken franchise with nearly 60 years of history, has teamed up with Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill to launch the "Countdown to Thanksgiving" community initiative in St. Louis. This collaborative effort, running through November 21, invites guests at all 15 Lee's locations and 9 Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill establishments across the region to donate non-perishable food items including canned vegetables, beans, pasta, rice, peanut butter, and boxed meals. All contributions will directly support Operation Food Search, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger and improving access to nutritious food throughout the community.
Participants who donate receive immediate rewards including a complimentary Coca-Cola beverage and entry into prize drawings for $100 gift cards from both Lee's and Hotshots, plus four home game hockey tickets. The initiative represents a powerful partnership between these established food service brands and community supporters including Coca-Cola and 101 ESPN Radio. Dan Sokolik, Vice President of Marketing at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, emphasized the urgency of community need and the importance of supporting Operation Food Search's tireless efforts to help St. Louis families feel supported during the Thanksgiving season.
This seasonal campaign builds upon Lee's ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity through their year-round partnership with GiftAMeal, which transforms guest dining experiences into meals for local families. Through this innovative program, guests can simply scan the GiftAMeal QR code found inside Lee's restaurants or on packaging to trigger donations that provide groceries to nearby food banks. The program requires no app download—just a quick mobile web experience where guests can take photos of their meals to activate donations, with social media sharing providing additional meals. This dual approach of seasonal food drives and year-round digital giving demonstrates Lee's comprehensive strategy to bring comfort and care to the communities they serve.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Lee's & Hotshots Launch Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Louis
