While festivalgoers swarmed Grant Park over four days at Lollapalooza and artists graced the stages, caterers behind the scenes set up their extensive lineup of gourmet VIP meals to feed the performers and their crews each day. â
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But a lot of that food goes to waste, said Maria Brunner, founder of Musically Fed, a national nonprofit that partners with the music industry to fight food insecurity. â
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âRight now, as we speak, 20 hotel pans are being taken to Centro Romero â thereâs some chicken and some sides,â Brunner said last week. âAnd the interesting thing about outlets like this is theyâll double it. Theyâll use magic to turn it into a lot of food.â â
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During Lollapalooza, Musically Fed and its volunteer team were on-site each day to collect, organize and distribute unused food to organizations supporting unhoused individuals, veterans, women in crisis and low-income families â including Centro Romero, Deborahâs Place, Pacific Garden Mission, Care For Real and Lincoln Park Community Services. â
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Tap on our bio link to read more.â
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Photo 1: Ravinia Williams, left, a manager at Deborah's Place, watches as volunteers from Musically Fed drop off uneaten food, originally provided to musicians and crews at the Lollapalooza festival, on July 31, 2025, at a Deborah's Place supportive housing facility near Chicagoâs Lincoln Park.â
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Photo 2: Musically Fed volunteers Kat Nutter, from left, Lauren Nutter, Hunter Adams and John Hozack bring uneaten food to Deborah's Place.â
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? Zareen Syed / Chicago Tribuneâ
?ď¸ Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune
While festivalgoers swarmed Grant Park over four days at Lollapalooza and artists graced the stages, caterers behind the scenes set up their extensive lineup of gourmet VIP meals to feed the performers and their crews each day. â
â
But a lot of that food goes to waste, said Maria Brunner, founder of Musically Fed, a national nonprofit that partners with the music industry to fight food insecurity. â
â
âRight now, as we speak, 20 hotel pans are being taken to Centro Romero â thereâs some chicken and some sides,â Brunner said last week. âAnd the interesting thing about outlets like this is theyâll double it. Theyâll use magic to turn it into a lot of food.â â
â
During Lollapalooza, Musically Fed and its volunteer team were on-site each day to collect, organize and distribute unused food to organizations supporting unhoused individuals, veterans, women in crisis and low-income families â including Centro Romero, Deborahâs Place, Pacific Garden Mission, Care For Real and Lincoln Park Community Services. â
â
Tap on our bio link to read more.â
â
-----â
â
Photo 1: Ravinia Williams, left, a manager at Deborah's Place, watches as volunteers from Musically Fed drop off uneaten food, originally provided to musicians and crews at the Lollapalooza festival, on July 31, 2025, at a Deborah's Place supportive housing facility near Chicagoâs Lincoln Park.â
â
Photo 2: Musically Fed volunteers Kat Nutter, from left, Lauren Nutter, Hunter Adams and John Hozack bring uneaten food to Deborah's Place.â
â
? Zareen Syed / Chicago Tribuneâ
?ď¸ Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune
