ABC7 Solutions: LA nonprofit uses leftover catered meals from TV or film sets to help those in need.
Entertainment
Nonprofit in Los Angeles uses leftovers from Hollywood film sets to provide delicious meals to families in need.
Los Angeles — If you’ve ever watched a movie or enjoyed your favorite show, then you know that a lot of catering effort goes into creating delicious food for us to enjoy. But did you know that some of those dishes might end up on someone else’s plate? A local non-profit organization in Los Angeles called “Eat Right” is making sure they do get served by volunteering at TV and film shoots to use the leftovers as meals for families in need.
Eat Right is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide the homeless and low-income individuals with access to healthy and nutritious meals. They work with donors and companies to collect food and supplies, but what really makes their program unique is how they get around waste. By working together with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, Eat Right can gather even more resources than they would if they were just donating them directly to people in need. So they turned to the entertainment industry as a solution to serve those who deserve it the most.
One of their main goals is to reduce food waste. The problem is that not all the food generated during filming or shooting gets eaten before it perishes. Once the filmmakers are done with their meals, the remains are often discarded. This not only creates a mess but also affects the environment since the food is spoiling by landfills. In addition, it can also lead to food poisoning, which is especially dangerous when it comes to children or other vulnerable groups. This is why Eat Right decided to take matters into their own hands by reaching out to the various film and television studios across LA and surrounding regions.
They approached several big studios such as Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney Studios, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, Fox Studios, and Universal City Studios among many others. They asked the studios to donate unused food and leftovers from set-ups of movie and TV shows. Each studio agreed to give up two cases of food, and Eat Right uses these items to provide 50% of their meals for a year. They have also had several film crews ask them directly to collect unwanted food at locations like backstage trailers or restaurants while on set. And not surprisingly, the response has been overwhelming. Eat Right said that over the years, more than 150 movie sets have allowed them to use leftover catered meals to help families in need.
For example, when they were working with Warner Bros. on their hit show “The Big Bang Theory”, they were able to donate 35 cases of lunches that were ready to be served to be used for meals for families in need. The same thing went for their partnership with Disney when filming their new animated series “Champions” where they collected 28 cases of leftover meals. So how do they choose who to help? They work closely with local organizations that focus on serving those in need to ensure the right people get the right help. It’s important to note that everything goes towards helping children and families in need, including homeless families.
“We are super grateful to Eat Right for partnering with us and giving back to our community,” said Elizabeth Booth, the Director of Community Services at North Valley Family Services. “These types of programs really make a difference in everyone’s lives. We cannot thank them enough for all they have done.”
Eat Right is one of many nonprofits around the world taking small actions to make a big difference. This nonprofit is not only reaching out for help but also collecting items from businesses such as clothing stores and retailers, encouraging community members to start composting, creating fundraising campaigns for bigger causes such as education or healthcare. So next time you watch your favorite TV shows or movies, give a thought to the other families struggling to find basic necessities like food. You could just as easily be their best friend. With your help, these non-profits can provide quality meals for thousands of lives across LA every year.
