A Super Bowl means lots of leftovers. Here’s where Hard Rock Stadium’s are going
Slabs of grilled ribs stacked high. Trays of mac ’n’ cheese. Pounds upon pounds of uncooked salmon.
These were some of the meals left sitting in Hard Rock Stadium after Super Bowl 54 Sunday, which saw a capacity crowd of 65,000 witness the Kansas City Chiefs triumph over the San Francisco 49ers.
Thanks to a group of local volunteers, most of that food will go to hungry South Floridians.
The local chapter of Food Rescue US, a nonprofit that diverts unused food away from the waste stream and into productive use, has been coordinating pickup and delivery efforts in Miami Gardens since Monday morning. Overseeing the post-Super Bowl relief effort is Ellen Bowen, Miami site director of Food Rescue US.
“It is amazing, the food you see going straight to landfills,” she said.
Bowen expected to pick up at least 10,000 pounds of uneaten food between Monday and Wednesday; it will be delivered to one of 13 South Florida-based food depositories or homeless shelters she works with.
In a statement, Dayanny de la Cruz, chef of Centerplate at Hard Rock Stadium, said she is pleased to work with the volunteers.
“Our Centerplate team is proud to give back to the communities we serve, and to ensure that the meals we create can also support those in need, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer food rescue teams,” she said.
Around noon Monday, 16-year-old Henry Hurowitz dropped off dozens of leftovers at the Broward Partnership homeless services center in Fort Lauderdale. Hurowitz has his own food rescue nonprofit, FoodEASE, that picks up uneaten food from places like local hotels and drops it off to those in need.
He said he founded the group after being “astounded” by the volume of food that goes to waste each year in South Florida alone. Since July, he estimates he’s delivered 12,000 pounds, or the equivalent of approximately 11,200 meals.
His principal gave him Monday morning off.
“Now I’m always asking what people are doing with their leftovers,” he said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2020 at 4:20 PM.
