One Man's Leftovers is Another Man's Dinner

After a U2 gig or Jets game and most of the spectators have gone, Rock and Wrap It Up! arrives at the scene and gets to work. Since 1991, the non-profit organization has been collecting leftover food, which would otherwise be thrown out, at concert venues, sports stadiums, and filming locations. Volunteers then deliver the recovered eats to nearby charities, food banks, and pantries.

Created by businessman and self-proclaimed former hippie Syd Mandelbaum, Rock and Wrap It Up! is an anti-poverty and anti-hunger think thank. Since its inception, the New York-based charity has donated over 250 million pounds of food to more than 43,000 shelters and places of need across North America with the help of its partners.

Since caterers generally prepare more food than needed for an event, there is always plenty of leftovers. This is where Rock and Wrap It Up! steps in. They make it easy for musicians, sports teams, and the film and television industry to donate unused food to soup kitchens and shelters by providing free pickup and delivery services. Some well-known names that have collaborated with the organization include the Rolling Stones, Backstreet Boys, Tori Amos, Paul McCartney, HBO, and NBCUniversal.

In 2003, Rock and Wrap It Up! started working with sports franchises. The Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and World Wrestling Entertainment are just a few of those that have joined in. Rock and Wrap It Up! has teamed up with more than 300 schools nationwide as well to encourage students to donate unopened snacks and take part in non-perishable food drives.

Aside from leftover food, Rock and Wrap It Up! also recovers new or slightly used toiletries from hotels. The group collects shampoo, conditioner, soap, and toilet paper left behind by guests of the Grand Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton, among others, to prevent them from going into landfills.