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Commitment is Part of League-wide Partnership with Rock and Wrap It Up!
NEW YORK (March 18, 2011) -- The four National Hockey League Clubs based in the Midwestern U.S. will receive a different kind of award at the close of the 2010-11 NHL regular season. The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency will honor the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild for their commitment to recovering all prepared but untouched concession food as part of the NHL’s partnership with Rock and Wrap it Up!
To date, the four Clubs have combined to divert nearly 12 tons of waste from reaching landfills, while providing 18,000 meals to local community shelters.
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Chicago: In cooperation with food provider Levy, the reigning Stanley Cup Champions have rerouted 3,500 pounds of food that otherwise would have been discarded. Levy and the Salvation Army coordinate the pick-up and distribution of prepared meals from the United Center after Blackhawks’ home games. On April 3rd, the EPA will celebrate the Blackhawks’ environmental achievements, presenting the Club with a plaque during a pre-game ceremony.
Columbus: In cooperation with food provider Delaware North Sports Service, the Blue Jackets have rerouted 2,294 pounds of food. Delaware North and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank coordinate the pick-up and distribution from Nationwide Arena after Blue Jackets’ home games. On March 20th, the EPA will recognize the Blue Jackets’ environmental achievements, presenting the Club with a plaque during the second period in the Nationwide Fan Lounge.
Detroit: In cooperation with food provider Olympia Entertainment, the Red Wings have rerouted 13,071 pounds of food. Olympia Entertainment and Forgotten Harvest coordinate the pick-up and distribution from Joe Louis Arena after Red Wings’ home games. On March 21st, the EPA will celebrate the Red Wings’ environmental achievements, presenting the Club with a plaque at an on-ice, pre-game ceremony.
Minnesota: In cooperation with food provider Levy, the Wild have rerouted 6,220 pounds of food. Levy and Joseph’s Store House coordinate the pick-up and distribution from the Xcel Energy Center after Wild home games. On March 26th, the EPA will celebrate the Wild’s environmental achievements, presenting the Club with a plaque on the "Let’s Play Hockey" FSN stage during intermission.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this year celebrates 40 years of tangible improvements to the health and the environment of the American people. The Agency is honoring Rock and Wrap It Up! and the National Hockey League for their participation in its WasteWise Food Recovery Challenge, which encourages participants to reduce, donate, and recycle as much of their food waste as possible, thereby saving money and protecting the environment.
"US EPA congratulates the Midwest NHL teams for helping to solve two problems at the same time: feeding the hungry and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills," said EPA Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. "We look forward to working with the NHL to expand Rock and Wrap It Up! next year."
In October, the National Hockey League announced a partnership with Rock and Wrap It Up! to fight hunger and prevent waste across the United States and Canada. This season, all 30 of the League's Member Clubs have committed to work with RWU to pack up all prepared but unsold concession food on game nights for redistribution to local shelters and places of need. As of March 1, NHL Clubs have provided 120,000 meals while keeping more than 80 tons of food waste from landfills.
