For more than three decades, our Carnegie Mellon community has been showing care and concern for our neighbors in need of food in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Therefore, we are excited to embark on the 33rd Anniversary of Carnegie Mellon's Annual Food Drive, organized and sponsored by Staff Council.

"Each year, we are inspired by the way our students, faculty and staff demonstrate such deep care and support for our community through the Food Drive. This annual campus-wide initiative serves as a powerful reminder of our campus' core values and commitment to the region," said Jim Garrett, Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Honorary Food Drive Chair. 

Again, the Food Drive is one important way the university demonstrates its commitment to the community and that commitment has grown exponentially over the years. 

In 1994, we collected 1,355 lbs. of nonperishable items for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB) as a result of our first drive. Fast-forward to the end of our 2025 drive, when we proudly shared our
32-year cumulative totals of $743,054 and 81.6 tons of food and other goods. 

According to our partners at GPCFB, Carnegie Mellon organizes the highest grossing food drive of any single organization in the city of Pittsburgh. Our university community continues to be motivated each year to keep our tradition of fighting hunger in the Pittsburgh area alive!

Our goals for this year are as follows:

• $100,000 to support our neighbors facing food insecurity.
• 250 can openers to be donated directly to the CMU Food Pantry
• Other nonperishable items for GPCFB - with special focus on peanut butter **

Please be as generous as possible. Gifts of any size are important and appreciated. In fact, every $1 donated to the Food Bank can provide up to three meals!

Please note this year's special event dates:

- Thursday, October 1 - Official Start

- Tuesday, October 6 - Tartan Tuesdays Student Engagement Event, Noon - 5:00 pm, Alumini House

- Tuesday, October 20 - Drive & Drop - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, East Campus Garage

- Tuesday, October 20 - Tartan Tuesdays Student Engagement Event, Noon to 5:00 pm, Alumni House

- Wednesday, October 28 - Food Drive Fall Fest, Noon - 2:00 pm, Sidewalk Outside of Merson Courtyard

- Wednesday, November 4 - Benefits & Fitness Fair, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, CUC, 2nd floor

As chairss and co-chairs of the drive, we want to thank you in advance for your continued generosity!

Carole Panno, Chair, Staff Council Food Drive Committee
Jim Garrett, Honorary Chair
Star Broadus, Co-Chair
Charlene Payne Parrish, Co-Chair

If you have any questions, please contact Carole Panno.

** Please watch for details regarding a special peanut butter initiative!