Outside PPG Paints Arena and Rivers Casino, groups rally to feed the hungry

Hundreds of people waited in long lines Friday in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood as part of a food distribution event to address those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Across town, outside Rivers Casino, members of the Iota Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity collected food donated by the casino to distribute to churches in the city.

About 1,300 meals — two boxes containing dry and frozen foods per vehicle — were distributed to each vehicle outside PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Fire Lt. Tom Wosko said. The event was in conjunction with the Allegheny County labor council, the Penguins, Pittsburgh police and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

“As long as there’s months, not weeks, to go, there’s going to be a need for this on a continual basis,” said Mayor Bill Peduto, who also was on hand.

The Iota Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi, an international historically black fraternity, consists of any brother of the organization who has graduated from college and now lives in Pittsburgh.

The fraternity members were making stops at Eat Initiative at the Energy Innovation Center on Bedford Avenue, Ebenezer Baptist Church on Wylie Avenue and Mount Ararat Baptist Church on Paulson Avenue.

The churches will then prepare the meals to distribute to families facing food insecurity.