Where speed meets community
Disaster relief boxes packed in the FCC warehouse before being shipped out to neighborhoods nationwide that need them most.
On Friday, May 16th, 2025, the city of St. Louis was struck by a powerful EF3 tornado, with winds exceeding 150 mph. The storm tore through an 8-mile-wide area, damaging over 7,000 homes and changing thousands of lives in a matter of minutes.
In the immediate aftermath, local first responders provided urgent aid to neighbors. Soon after, the St. Louis Area Foodbank assessed the community’s broader needs to determine how best to provide lasting support in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
One of the first calls was to Fresh Connect Central — a trusted partner since 2017, known for its swift delivery of disaster relief boxes filled with shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meals. With these boxes already packed and staged, Fresh Connect Central stepped in to deliver not just food, but hope, to communities rebuilding from the ground up.
Andretti driver Marcus Ericsson signs disaster relief boxes he helped pack in the Fresh Connect Central warehouse ahead of the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
Interestingly, these disaster relief boxes had been assembled just weeks earlier—thanks in part to Marcus Ericsson, Andretti’s race car driver. Marcus understands that racing is more than speed; it’s about teamwork and moments that matter. That spirit drove him to support Fresh Connect Central by helping pack disaster relief boxes before the Indianapolis 500, preparing to provide critical aid when it mattered most.
When the tornado struck, these very boxes were deployed within 72 hours, bringing vital relief to neighbors in urgent need. Having a reliable partner like Fresh Connect Central made rapid response easier and more effective.
But disaster recovery is not a sprint. It’s a marathon stretching over weeks and months.
The hardest miles in recovery are often still ahead. Taking the driver’s seat, Fresh Connect Central delivers relief, restores dignity, and fuels communities near and far — offering hope and endless possibilities for the road ahead.