So Where Do Those Verizon Center Leftover Concessions Actually Go? D.C. Central Kitchen | Community Spirit

Have you ever been at a Washington Wizards, Mystics, or Capitals game and wondered where all the leftover concessions go?  You know, all of those sausages and chicken fingers that are left untouched and uneaten?

Well, rest assured that they are going to a good cause: D.C. Central Kitchen, one of the city's largest organizations dedicated to combatting hunger.

The day after any event at Verizon Center, the stadium’s concession vendors, Aramark and Levy Restaurants, take the safe, leftover sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and other food products and prepare pick-up packages for D.C. Central Kitchen to use.

Since teaming up with D.C. Central Kitchen last summer, Monumental Sports(the ownership group of the Wizards, Mystics, Capitals, and Verizon Center led by Ted Leonsis) has donated about 10,000 pounds of food product to the organization.

“Ted Leonsis, the Verizon Center, and Monumental Sports have been supporters for quite a long time,” Said Brian Macnair, Chief Development Officer of D.C. Central Kitchen.  “This past year, we started a relationship where they’re donating food product from conferences and events that go on (at Verizon Center).  It’s huge, because we do 5,000 meals every day, 365 days a year.  (The food goes from) our kitchen to all of the local shelters, transitional homes, and halfway houses.”

As the Washington Capitals 2010-2011 regular season campaign comes to an end, the Verizon Center has already donated 1,400 pounds of food from their games this season.

“Everything from Wizards to Mystics to concerts, anything that we host in this building, we have a program now that D.C. Central Kitchen picks up any leftover concessions or catering food,” Nick Elgin, General Manager of Aramark.  “Fighting hunger is important worldwide, but specifically in D.C., we have a significant homeless population.  We have a lot of homeless shelters that are at capacity, we have a lot of people who are out on the street, and D.C. Central Kitchen is huge in the area for getting food to (those people).  For Aramark(and Verizon Center), it’s a win win. “

D.C. Central also hopes to have their partnership with the Verizon Center extend beyond food.  Macnair said he believes that some of D.C. Central Kitchen’s culinary job training graduates could have an opportunity to get jobs with Aramark as well.

“I think the food product is only the start,” Macnair explained.  “Ted Leonsis is really dedicated to the homeless community, and in particular, he likes our strategy of not only feeding people, but training men and women for jobs and getting them back into the community and back on their feet.   So, we’re not only looking at food donation from this large organization, but we’re looking at potential jobs down the road.”