The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will hold its second distribution at the parking lots of PPG Paints Arena in Downtown Pittsburgh Friday to provide food to those hit hard financially by the coronavirus pandemic.
The drive-up distribution is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The food bank is working again with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council to conduct the distribution.
The nonprofit said it will have enough food for 2,000 vehicles, with each receiving two 25-pound boxes of food that includes shelf-stable as well as frozen items. That’s about 700 more households being served than its last distribution at the arena two weeks ago, the food bank said.
Some streets in Downtown Pittsburgh will be closed for the distribution. Vehicles are asked to enter the distribution area by taking Centre Avenue to Logan Street from Centre Avenue. From there parking lot attendants will direct vehicles into one of three lots where food will be distributed. To exit, traffic will be routed to Fullerton Street then to Centre Avenue.
The food bank is again asking people to stay in their vehicles and to unlock their trunk or backseat door so volunteers can place the food into their car.
No walk-ups will be permitted due to safety concerns. Pittsburgh police will be assisting with traffic control.
On Wednesday, the food bank held its largest emergency distribution yet at Pittsburgh International Airport, handing out about 40,600 pounds of food to 812 vehicles.
Overall, food bank officials said the organization has served more than 10,600 vehicles and distributed more than 580,600 pounds of food at nearly a dozen emergency food distributions since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the Pittsburgh region.
Food bank officials said more distribution days will be scheduled once the organization confirms the locations.
In the meantime, those needing more food help should contact their local food pantry or visit the food bank’s website for help in locating a pantry near where you live, according to the nonprofit. The website includes a map of food pantries, meals for children and SNAP (food stamps) application assistance.
Pet food distribution
The Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team or PAART will be distributing more than 80,000 pounds of dog food Friday at the Allegheny County Airport.
PAART has teamed up with the county Airport Authority to distribute the pet food from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the airport on Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin. People are asked to pull into the airport parking lot in a single line.
First Published: April 24, 2020, 9:58 a.m.
Updated: April 24, 2020, 9:58 a.m.
