Annual Steelers Food Drive Tackles Hunger

ANNUAL PITTSBURGH STEELERS FOOD DRIVE TACKLES HUNGER
Giant Eagle to Match Food Donations
 
            The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank are once again teaming up to tackle hunger with the Steelers' Food Drive at Heinz Field this Sunday, October 25, when the Minnesota Vikings come to town for a 1 p.m. game. Steelers' and Food Bank sponsor Giant Eagle will match the food donation total pound for pound. Last year's drive raised 1,920 pounds and $1,783.00.
 
            Fans attending the game are asked to bring nutritious non-perishable food and grocery items to Heinz Field beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday. They may also make cash donations to Food Bank volunteers who will be stationed at the gates.
 
"Inventory at the Food Bank always needs a boost at this time of year," said Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Food Bank, "so our community partner food drives are greatly appreciated. I know that Steelers' fans like a challenge. With Giant Eagle's wonderful offer to match the food donation, we need the fans to bring more food than ever!"
 
Food Bank collection barrels and volunteers will be at gates A, B and C, and the Food Bank truck will be parked along Art Rooney Avenue, from 10:00 am until a little after kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
 
            Armchair fans watching the game on TV can still help the Steelers feed hungry people by checking out the Sideline Hunger Campaign! Visit the Food Bank website home page (www.pittsburghfoodbank.org) and click on the Sideline Hunger link which is located in the Steelers Food Drive area at the top of the page.  
 
At the Sideline Hunger web page, fans can participate in Campbell's Chunky Soup's "Click for Cans" campaign through December 31st. Vote for the Steelers every day and help them win thousands of cans of soup for the Food Bank. There's also a weekly trivia quiz where fans can win autographed merchandise.
 
Finally, Max Starks and several of his teammates will once again be providing turkeys and Thanksgiving "fixin's" to more than 200 local families in need on November 24th. Bring non-perishable groceries to Max's Food Drive at the Filene's Basement storefront at The Waterfront beginning at 7 p.m. and receive a raffle ticket for autographed items. Max will call the raffle at 8:00 pm.
 
 "When community leaders like the Steelers step forward, their help goes far beyond the actual food and funds they collect," said Rothermel. "Their visibility increases awareness throughout the region and reminds everyone that some of their neighbors struggle every day with food insecurity."
 
About GPCFB
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating hunger and developing collaborative strategies to encourage self-reliance in southwestern Pennsylvania. Distributing more than 21.5 million pounds of food per year to 380+ member agencies, the Food Bank serves approximately 120,000 people per year, of whom 37,000 are children. Located in an award-winning "green" warehouse in Duquesne, the Food Bank depends upon private and corporate donors, and volunteers who help with food repackaging, clerical work, special events, and harvesting activities. For every $1.00 donated, the Food Bank is able to purchase $5.00 worth of goods and services. www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
 
Most-needed items:  Canned meats, tuna (water-packed), canned beans, low-sugar cereal, peanut butter, canned juice (100% juice), canned vegetables and fruit (packed in juice). Paper products, personal care items, diapers (baby and adult). Non-perishable items only; no glass containers please.