By Stephanie Beer, USCM Intern
December 8, 2003

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2003 Annual Meeting in Denver in June, the Conference adopted a resolution in support of programs, such as Rock and Wrap It Up!®, that work toward reducing and eliminating hunger and homelessness in the United States. Rock and Wrap It Up! is an organization that first worked with the music industry in collecting edible leftover food from backstage concert catering, asking that contracts with caterers contain language that directs leftovers to feed the needy. It also coordinates other activities, such as food recovery from movie sets and political dinners to name a few. Local organization volunteers in 500 cities around the world are responsible for recovering the food and taking it to local soup kitchens or shelters.

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller learned about Rock and Wrap It Up!® at the Annual Meeting and immediately wanted to be involved with the program. Miller worked with the city manager's first assistant Mary Suhm to establish a program in Dallas and encouraged staff to work through the logistics of such a program. As a result, "Feed the Hungry in Dallas" was established on October 1. This program works in conjunction with Rock and Wrap It Up!® in collecting food from various events around the city. Miller established a policy to include information about the food collection in any contract signed to use city facilities which is coordinated by the city's Office of Special Events.

Miller recognized the opportunity of working with the film industry in Dallas, and began work with the Office of Special Events to include the program in their activities. This office has initiated an awareness program that includes a brief description of the program and contact numbers in all applications required for special events and filming in the city. Rock and Wrap It Up!® local volunteers, led by Cristy Ecton, pick up the food from those events participating in the program.

The 2002 71st Annual Conference of Mayors study of hunger and homelessness reported a nine percent increase in hunger within the United States since 1999. Over half of the cities surveyed in a 2002 Conference of Mayor's survey said they were not able to provide an adequate amount of food to the hungry. More than two-thirds of the cities surveyed said they have had to decrease the quantity of food provided and/or the number of times people come for food because of the increased number of participants and the decrease in funding and donated food.

Washington (DC) Mayor Anthony Williams said, "In the past years, the face of homelessness has changed here in the District of Columbia and in cities across America. It's going to take a coordinated effort on many fronts to combat this problem." This approach to reclaim edible leftover food is one solution. Many cities can participate because they manage the convention centers, athletic arenas and concert halls, and provide licenses for movie companies. For information about Rock and Wrap It Up!® call 1-877-691-FOOD, or visit www.rockandwrapitup.org.