(upbeat music) - Okay, stick with me here, an event with Utah's top chefs showing you how delectable reused ingredients can be.

At WasteLess Solutions Second Chance Dance, the goal is to highlight ways that you can help limit food waste.

Laila Hakkarinen is here with why you should consider adding this event to your calender.

Thank you so much for being here, Laila.

- Thanks for having me.

- So tell me about this event that kinda pits chefs against each other, but they are also working for one goal.

- Yes, so the Second Chance Dance is WasteLess Solutions' annual fundraiser.

This is our fifth year doing it and it just gets better and better each year.

We have eight of Utah's top chefs come together for a competition to see who makes the best dish out of rescued food, showing the audience that food really does deserve a second chance.

The audience will vote on which chef they think made the most creative and best dish and then we'll also have a judges vote, as well.

The event will have live music, drinks, dancing, games and a silent auction full of sustainable experiences and items that you can bid on with all of the proceeds going to WasteLess Solutions' programs to divert food from going to the landfill.

- [Liz] And why is this such an important thing during this time?

- Yeah, so in Utah alone, we have over 600,000 tons of food going to waste every single year, but 445,000 Utahans experience food insecurity so there's a major gap in our food system.

And when food rots in the landfill it emits methane gas which is harmful for our environment, but we're also seeing that food waste is a social justice issue with so many people that need to access food.

So WasteLess works to bridge that gap through food rescue where we have volunteers pick up surplus food from local restaurants or bakeries, even big event centers like the Delta Center or the Salt Palace and we get that food directly to our community members who need it.

- That's incredible.

Well, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing this information.

The food looks so good on the screen.

If you would like to check out this event the Second Chance Dance, it is happening at the Murray Armory August 17 from 6-9PM, just head to wastelesssolutions.org/events to get more details.

I'm Liz Adeola and thank you so much for watching "Contact."

(upbeat music) Philanthropy, Arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Liz Adeola, the host of Contact, a show that connects you with local events and organizations that serve your community.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to be on Contact, please visit pbs.org/contact