Pittsburgh Airport To Host Massive Food Distribution Event

PITTSBURGH, PA - Pittsburgh International Airport and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank are teaming up for an emergency drive-up food distribution set to take place in airport parking lots on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The airport and food bank plan to serve 1,500 vehicles during the event.

“The airport is an ideal location,” food bank president Lisa Scales said. t will be one of our largest distributions to date. Based on logistics, this is hopefully going to be one of our easiest and smoothest distributions.”

Only those attending the event in a vehicle will be served. Allegheny County Police will be assisting the organizations with traffic control. Specific traffic details will be announced prior to the distribution.

"Pittsburgh Airport is an integral part of the community. Our facilities will always be used to help the region – and now, with traffic down and large, quiet spaces available, we are finding new ways to serve,” Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said. “We are proud to partner with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for this event and we look forward to assisting those in need.”

Those who need food assistance, but do not have access to a vehicle should visit the food bank’s website at pittsburghfoodbank.org/gethelp for information on opportunities for help, including a map of food pantries, meals for children and SNAP (food stamps) application assistance.

The food bank is asking individuals to observe the following guidelines:

• Cars will not be permitted to arrive until 10 a.m. Law enforcement handling traffic will ask drivers to come back if they arrive before this time.

• Vehicles can't ait on the side of the highway or anywhere near airport property, including the Sunoco gas station. Law enforcement will be patrolling these areas and will ensure vehicles are not parked in these areas.

• To maintain the six-foot social distancing guideline, individuals must stay in their cars at all times except to use the provided outdoor restroom facilities. Leaving cars to socialize is prohibited.

• After pulling up to the distribution area, cars should be placed in park and then the trunk or backseat should be unlocked for food to be loaded.

• To maintain social distancing, when food is being loaded into the car, food recipients should stay in their vehicles.

So as many cars as possible can be served, those attending this emergency food distribution will receive two boxes of food per car regardless of the number of families or groups in the vehicle. These two boxes equal about 50 pounds of food.