Across households in America, the Super Bowl can be a time to loosen the belt and indulge in good food. For those families struggling with food insecurity, however, the game time meal meant a little more — 30,0000 pounds more, to be exact.
That’s how much food was rescued from VIP catered sections, concession stands, suites and other places the morning after the Super Bowl. It took volunteers from Food Rescue US three days to pack and deliver all of the leftovers, which went to the Miami Rescue Mission, Broward Outreach Center, Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Lotus House Shelter, and Camillus House. The food collected includes beef tenderloins, barbecue chicken, wings, ribs and charcuterie plates, according to ESPN.
“It’s a full volunteer job for everyone. We just want to help people in need. It’s amazing to see how much food there is that otherwise would have been thrown in the trash that can now feed so many people,” Food Rescue US Miami director Ellen Bowen told ESPN.
One in seven people struggle with hunger in Florida, where Super Bowl LIV was held on Feb. 2. As part of their Green initiative, the NFL worked with Centerplate, the exclusive food and beverage partner at Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Beach Convention Center, and Food Rescue U.S. to donate surplus food from Super Bowl events to food insecure individuals in the Miami area.
“With the scale of an event like the Super Bowl, we always prepare plenty of food, and I’m pleased to continue our partnership with Food Rescue US – Miami to deliver any surplus to local social service agencies feeding the hungry in our community,” said Chef Dayanny de la Cruz, Executive Chef of Centerplate at Hard Rock Stadium, in a release.
Throughout the season, the NFL’s Green initiative works to minimize the environmental impacts of their events. For the Super Bowl, the league worked with organizations in Miami to ensure comprehensive recycling, donate reusable materials including sports equipment and books, and plant several thousand tree seedlings in the Miami area. The league also uses renewable energy credits to offset the energy used at major Super Bowl venues.
