Oilers continue food recovery efforts

It’s hard to imagine 14,000 pounds of food. To put it into perspective, it’s about the same weight as five cars. That’s how much food has been donated to the Edmonton Food Bank’s Second Helping program since October 2010, when the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Oilers, Oil Kings, Dominion Sports Service and Northlands partnered to save and freeze any left over, prepared and unused food from concerts and hockey games as part of the NHL Rock & Wrap It Up Food Recovery Program.

In 2010, the National Hockey League launched the food recovery program to combat waste and fight hunger across North America. All 30 of the League's Member Clubs have committed to pack up all prepared but untouched concession food on game nights for redistribution to local shelters and places of need.

The League was celebrated by both Beyond Sport and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the initiative, which has diverted over 210 tons of waste from landfill and provided local shelters with more than 320,000 meals since its inception in 2010.

This October, the Oilers continued their program with a gift of over 1,000 pounds of food.

“As fast as it comes in, it goes out,” said Tamisan Bencz-Knight, Manager, Strategic Relations & Partnerships, Edmonton Food Bank. “What’s so nice about (the food) is it’s prepared. You just need to thaw it, warm it and serve it. The quality of the product is amazing and it’s simple and easy program to run.”

The most recent donation from Rexall Place benefited Our House addiction recovery agency which focus their efforts on supporting men working to rebuild their lives.

“When you think that all this food could go to waste rather than being used to benefit other people, it’s clear the program is a win-win for everybody," said Natalie Minckler, Executive Director, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. “This program just makes so much sense and the benefits are seen at agencies around Oil Country.”

To read the entire article, visit the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation page.