Local Food Rescue Nonprofit, Hess Corporation & Sysco Now Serving Houston’s Hospitality Industry

HOUSTON, April 13, 2020 /3BL Media/ – With the COVID-19 crisis upon us, Second Servings is devoting time and resources to a new group of Houstonians in need: hospitality workers. Partnering with long-time supporters, Hess Corporation and Sysco, Second Servings announces the “Dinner’s On Us” Program focused on providing take-home chef-prepared family meals to furloughed and unemployed hospitality workers in Houston.

“We saw the impact first-hand last month, when we rescued valuable perishable food from hotels, event venues, business cafeterias, schools and restaurant kitchens that were forced to close,” Second Servings Founder Barbara Bronstein said. “We created this program because we wanted to help the people who serve the community and donate surplus food to us all year long.”

Beginning Thursday, April 9, Second Servings will distribute 10,000 meals, prepared by Hess Corporation, each week to unemployed hospitality staff, such as restaurant workers, hotel housekeepers and convention service workers. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., the meals will be distributed in a contact-free drive-through procedure by Second Servings’ volunteers at 702 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX, 77003 in the LAM parking lot. The freshly prepared and frozen family meals serve 7-8 people and will feature hearty comfort food, such as chicken ‘n biscuits, red beans and rice and penne pasta with sausage. Sysco Houston is donating and discounting the food being prepared, as well as providing storage assistance.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel and hospitality sectors to a near halt,” Hess Corporation Global Dining Manager Randy Fournier said. “The consequences have been devastating for hotels, restaurants and others in the hospitality industry. In keeping with our values, Hess is pleased to provide some relief when needed most to those who typically serve others.”

To pick up a family meal, hospitality workers must present a recent paystub displaying the name of their restaurant, hotel, caterer, banquet venue, sports venue or convention center employer. Distribution will continue for as long as funding allows, and volunteers will adhere to all recommended social distancing protocols.

Please visit secondservingshouston.org/dinnersonus if you would like to support this program financially or to volunteer. The “Dinner’s On Us” Program is supported by Second Servings and Hess Corporation, as well as:

• Sysco Houston, a global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to a range of industries, is donating a portion of the food required to prepare meals and free refrigerated storage.
• BHW Capital, a full-service commercial real estate firm, which secured the meal distribution site, as well as provided financial support.
• ACME Party & Tent Rental, one of the largest party equipment rental providers in the Houston Area, which supplied the equipment needed to safely direct traffic flow in the distribution area.
• Mucasey & Associates Architects, a multi-family and residential architectural firm, which provided guidance on logistics for the best traffic flow and efficient, contact-free distribution.

“Dinner’s On Us” Distribution Details

LAUNCH: Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

WHERE: LAM Parking Lot
702 Avenida De Las Americas Houston, TX

WHEN: Every Tuesday and Thursday
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. / until supplies last

About Second Servings of Houston

Second Servings is Houston’s only prepared and perishable food rescue organization. Since 2015, the nonprofit has been on a mission to fill stomachs, not landfills, with perfectly edible surplus food. Second Servings picks up unserved and unsold food from distributors, convention centers, sports venues, retailers, hotels, etc. and executes free same-day delivery to more than 90 local shelters, soup kitchens, low-income housing and many other charities. Second Servings of Houston has rescued over 4 million pounds of food, valued at more than $20 million, from over 250 food donors. For more information, or to support or volunteer with Second Servings, visit www.secondservingshouston.org.

About Hess Corporation

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 69,000 associates, the company operates more than 320 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 650,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2019 that ended June 29, 2019, the company generated sales of more than $60 billion. Information about our CSR program, including Sysco’s 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, can be found at www.sysco.com/csr2019report.