The partnership between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Loaves and Fishes – a Minneapolis-based non-profit that serves free meals across 15 Minnesota counties – continues to grow as the airport community galvanizes to give back and reduce its waste.
This spring, the following MSP tenants joined the airport’s donation program:
- Aero Service Group
- Areas USA
- Estes
- Hudson
- Stellar Partners
- OTG
Several times per week, Loaves and Fishes staff arrive at MSP’s loading docks to receive donations. Items are then distributed at any one of Loaves and Fishes’ 130 locations or sent with a street outreach team to be passed out to people experiencing homelessness.
The partnership began in 2017 when HMSHost, which operates several eateries at MSP, sought to put its unsold but ready-to-eat meals to good use. Food safety and quality standards in HMSHost restaurants mean that its leftover pre-packed foods – such as sandwiches and salads – make ideal donations to Loaves and Fishes. Delaware North, Caribou Coffee and SSP America were also early participants in the program.
In 2022, the program donated 27 tons of food – up from 20 tons in 2021 – equal to 44,550 meals.
This waste reduction helps the airport meet its 2030 sustainability goal to divert 75% of material from its waste stream by 2030.