Nonprofit partners with Lollapalooza to feed Chicagoans in need

Lollapalooza leftovers feed Chicagoans in need

A national nonprofit is amplifying a local shelter?s efforts. They're teaming up to make sure unserved food from Lollapalooza doesn?t go to waste.

CHICAGO - As Lollapalooza takes over Grant Park this weekend, there's an effort underway behind the scenes to ensure Chicagoans don't go hungry.

Musically Fed, a national nonprofit, is mobilizing the music industry to make a difference by teaming up with local nonprofits, like homeless shelters, to feed dozens of people.

What we know:

Since 2016, Musically Fed has partnered with performers, promoters and festivals to turn leftover catered food from backstage into meals for those who need it most. 

"We have had the opportunity to meet some of the most innovative, positive, impactful organizations throughout the Chicago community," said Maria Brunner, who is the founder & director of Musically Fed.

This year during Lollapalooza, the Arizona-based organization is joining forces with Lincoln Park Community Services (LPCS), which operates two homeless shelters in the city, including one on Sedgewick Street.

"By having food, it's one of the key ingredients of having a healthy life," said LPCS Director of Development Bob Jones. 

For Jones, Musically Fed's mission is hitting all the right notes. As crews were setting the stage in Grant Park in the days leading up to the four-day fest, and throughout the weekend, LPCS is getting encore-worthy donations. 

"It's all quality catered food that's leftover that the artists don't use, the stagehands don't use, the people who are setting everything up, they don't use it, and they don't want it to go to waste," Jones said. 

On Friday, volunteers from Musically Fed made another delivery to the homeless shelter. On the menu: chicken, pasta, pork, veggies, and breakfast items. 

Otherwise, the food would go to waste.

What they're saying:

There are strict guidelines enacted by Musically Fed that ensure the food is fresh and of quality. 

"Things are kept in refrigerators, they're kept in hot boxes. Whatever is left, it's inventoried, it's wrapped," Brunner said. 

As Jones is sharing, the partnership is leaving a lasting impact on guests staying at the shelter. 

"They're getting quality food and that saves us a lot of money that we can then put into other programs, including our drop-in program," Jones explained. 

Jake Perry with C3 Presents, which produces Lollapalooza, explains that teaming up with Musically Fed is part of the festival's overall commitment to sustainability.

"We're talking about thousands of meals over the course of this weekend," Perry said. "We're incredibly thankful to be here."

What's next:

To learn more about LPCS and its efforts to support Chicago's unhoused individuals, CLICK HERE. For more information about Musically Fed and how you can bolster its mission, CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile, Lollapalooza's sustainability efforts also include its Rock and Recycle program and its hybrid-battery-powered T-Mobile stage, which is back for the second year in a row. Learn more about the festival's impact on the local community by clicking HERE.