NHL Rocks And Wraps It Up

Hunger-fighting nonprofit Rock and Wrap It Up! has a new client in the National Hockey League, which recently teamed up with the organization to pack up prepared but unsold concession food on game nights.

The move makes the NHL the first sports league to register all 30 of its member clubs to participate in the Rock and Wrap It Up! initiative. Several of the league’s clubs have donated more than 170,000 meals to the nonprofit since 2007.

“Rock and Wrap It Up! recognizes how vital and valuable our partnership with the National Hockey League is,” RWU founder Syd Mandelbaum said in a statement. “[The NHL] and its franchises will help feed millions more who hunger while keeping thousands of tons of food out of landfill.”

Average donations to shelters vary but New York’s Buffalo Sabres, which play at the HSBC Arena, are new to the program and itemized a recent contribution to the Buffalo City Mission.

Following an Oct. 15 game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Sabres donated more than 25 pizzas, 25 sandwiches, scores of jumbo pretzels, salads and popcorn to the shelter, the Buffalo News reported.

The team and venue are expected to provide food to the mission about 100 nights per year, following both sporting events and concerts.

Rock and Wrap It Up! has worked with more 150 bands, 200 schools and universities and 50 sports franchises since the initiative was launched in 1994.