Crowds at a recent NBA game and University of Oklahoma spring football game in downtown Oklahoma City cheered on their teams while enjoying snacks and meals.
Not all of the small snacks and treats offered during sporting events are eaten, but thanks to a tech-savvy Tulsa resident, the leftover food is being delivered to people in need.
Aneshai Smith, founder and CEO of Go See The City, is using the Hariet.AI enterprise platform to make it easier for restaurants, arenas, and stadiums to inform nonprofits about unused food they can donate. created. She said this is all part of Go See the City’s Zero Waste Food initiative, which directs surplus food at games and events and directs it to local nonprofits focused on combating food insecurity. It said it was part of a repurposing initiative.
Mr Smith said Go See the City’s recent partnership with Levy Restaurant Group is a major boost to its zero waste efforts. The partnership will allow surplus food from Paycom Center Arena, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA franchise, to be delivered to those in need. Recently, surplus food from the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks playoff game was distributed to local nonprofit organizations.
More: New OKC Thunder Arena: Oklahoma City Council names potential site and planned agreement
In April, surplus fare from the University of Oklahoma’s annual spring football game at OU’s Memorial Stadium was donated. Mr Smith said 299 pounds of food was distributed to the two charities, more food than had ever been diverted through the Zero Waste Initiative.
Mark Mabry, senior executive chef for Levy Restaurant Group, said Levy Restaurant Group is providing food and beverage options for events at OU’s Paycom Center and Memorial Stage. He said he is working with chefs to better predict food demand, reduce overproduction, and educate people on how to reuse food scraps and leftovers through meals and ingredients.
However, he said there may still be food left over and welcomed the partnership with Go See the City.
“We will continue to work on initiatives like this (zero waste) to reduce waste and encourage the reuse/reuse of unused food,” Mabry said.
Organizations able to provide thousands of meals through their programs
Amy Willoughby of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church received some of the surplus food donated at OU’s spring football game. She said the food will be welcomed by those who come to eat at Chickasha Chapel.
“So this is the first donation from OU, but we have received four donations from the Paycom Center so far,” Willoughby said. “With four donations he was able to provide 1,000 meals, which was a blessing.”
She said the donated food was used to feed about 50 children in the church and surrounding area Wednesday night. Willoughby said the recent increase in donations has forced the church to get the word out to the entire community, and volunteers are working with people experiencing homelessness, families in need, foster families and others who simply need a meal. He said they are now able to provide meals to people in need.
Maya Fialos, spokesperson for Go See The City, said Smith’s Go See The City and its Zero Waste Initiative, said it came at a great time.
You can know more
For more information about Go See The City and our zero waste initiative, please visit https://goseethecity.com/.
