ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — As thousands of soccer fans descended on Atlanta for the FIFA World Cup, a local nonprofit saw an opportunity to address food waste and hunger at the same time.
Second Helpings Atlanta conducted nine food rescue missions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the tournament, recovering 19,267 pounds of food, enough to provide 16,056 meals to people in need.
Jack Steig, development coordinator for Second Helpings Atlanta, said a longstanding relationship with the stadium made it possible to move quickly once the tournament began.
“We knew that it would cause extra surplus,” Steig said. “So after partnering with Mercedes-Benz Stadium for years, we knew that this opportunity would be a seamless introduction into the FIFA World Cup.”
The food recovered across the nine missions varied by pickup. Steig said 42 percent of the rescued food was prepared meals, 15 percent was fresh produce, and seven percent was frozen and cooked meats.
Steig said the need for that food is especially great in neighborhoods just minutes from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where many families continue to face food insecurity.
“People are left behind and we are trying to make sure we’re keeping that food in the community and making sure that everyone is able to have access if they need access to food,” Steig said.
Steig said addressing surplus food is central to solving hunger more broadly.
“Solving hunger in so many ways is eliminating surplus food,” Steig said. “There’s so much food waste in this country. Enough to feed everyone in America two times.”
To find out how you can help or donate food, click here.
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