Saints fans’ tailgate feeds and serves the unhoused in New Orleans

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Saints fans have turned their tailgate into a mutual aid organization that serves unhoused people in New Orleans.

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Saints fan Allen Keller was tailgating with some friends before a home game, and before the headed into the stadium, Keller and his fellow fans decided to share their leftovers with some unhoused people near the Superdome. That decision has turned into #TailgateTogether, a group of fans who have turned their Saints tailgate into service, sharing food, necessary supplies, and fellowship with New Orleans’ unhoused population.

“It started from Saints tailgates,” Keller told Canal Street Chronicles, SB Nation’s Saints blog, back in 2022. “We’d have a ton of food leftover, so we’d bring that out to the homeless. But the thought of giving the homeless our leftovers didn’t feel right to me. So we started cooking the homeless their own separate, fresh meal.”

As the mission has grown, so has the scope of this group’s efforts. #TailgateTogether now operates year-round, feeding the unhoused on a biweekly basis, and in addition to food, they share essentials like hygiene items, toothbrushes, blankets, and more with this community. And the community shows up.

“Me and a few friends cook. We set up televisions, music, and a buffet-style food operation. The crowd is usually well over 100 people.” Keller said in 2022, “Attendees usually chip in a donation to keep it going for every home game and also help us to continue feeding the homeless.”

The Saints have not been particularly fun to watch this season. They’re sitting at 2-10, in the basement of a very weird NFC South. But #TailgateTogether is a celebration of something much bigger than football: Neighbors helping Neighbors.

All of #TailgateTogether’s efforts are sustained by donations of food, necessary items, money, and time. If you’re interested in supporting the important work of #TailgateTogether, click here for more information.

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