Overland Park Convention Center Partners With Local Food Recovery Organization to Address Food Waste and Fight Hunger

May 25, 2023

In keeping with its progressive sustainability initiatives, the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) recently took a major step toward combatting large-scale event food waste and hunger in its local community.

Last month, the Overland Park, Kan.-based facility announced it had formed a partnership with Pete’s Garden, a food recovery organization based in Kansas City, Mo. that recovers surplus prepared foods from local caterers, restaurants and food service operations, then repackages and redirects the food as healthy take-home meals for families needing assistance in the greater Kansas City area. 

Distributed for free through social service organizations that serve families with children, the take-home meals are currently being provided to Head Start programs and social service organizations including Operation Breakthrough, Boys & Girls Club, Jewish Family Services, Avenue of Life and Shawnee Community Services.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food waste comprises an estimated 30-40% of the entire food supply, with minimizing food waste posing a significant challenge to the hospitality industry, including convention venues.  

Determined to combat this problem, the OPCC started composting its food waste in August 2021 and began prioritizing food donation. However, faced with growing limitations about the type of food agencies would accept and when they would accept it, finding a home for its surplus food became increasingly challenging. And as these limitations grew, so did the facility’s food waste problem.  

That’s when partnering with a local food recovery organization such as Pete’s Garden became the best solution for not only preventing food waste at the facility but also making a positive environmental impact while helping those in need. 

“To tackle this issue, we have implemented a two-pronged approach: first, by donating prepared food to those in need, and second, through food composting as a part of our current sustainability program,” explained Jessica Corona, OPCC director of food and beverage. “We are always seeking ways to be more sustainable while also being a people-focused organization—what better way to meet this goal then by serving those in our local community?”

Overland Park Convention Center

In 2022 alone, Pete’s Garden recovered nearly 70,000 lbs. of prepared proteins and side dishes and distributed more than 75,000 meals to local families, but collaborating with the convention center will allow the organization to make an even greater impact, according to Pete’s Garden officials.

“Pete’s Garden makes it easier for families to share healthy meals together at home,” explained Tamara Weber, founder and executive director of Pete’s Garden. “To ensure food safety and provide fresh and healthy meals to families, Pete’s Garden is very selective about what food can be donated. The Overland Park Convention Center has demonstrated exemplary adherence to these food safety standards.” 

Pete’s Garden accepts food only if it has been prepared in a health department inspected kitchen, and handled and stored in accordance with safe time-temperature standards. Volunteers then package the meals in a commercial kitchen facility overseen by food safety certified staff, and all meals are labeled with a use-by date.

In addition to food recovery, Pete’s Garden partners with high school culinary arts programs to engage students in preparing take-home meals for families in their communities. Aptly named Kids Feeding Kids (KFK), this program provides educators with a standards-based food justice and culinary curriculum that focuses on increasing food access, reducing food insecurity and raising awareness around the social and environmental impacts of food waste. Educators who participate in KFK receive lesson plans along with all the ingredients and supplies they need to help their students prepare up to 1,000 meal servings.

To learn more about the Overland Park Convention Center’s partnership with Pete’s Garden and other sustainability initiatives, go here. To donate, volunteer or learn more about Pete’s Garden, go here.

 

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HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.