The Pirates have prioritized helping to combat food insecurity in the Pittsburgh area for many years. However, the organization increased its efforts in 2025, mindful of an increase in the number of people at risk of going hungry.
“The Pirates and Pirates Charities, led by Chairman Bob Nutting, have worked alongside our neighbors to address critical regional issues, including the fight against chronic hunger,” Pirates president Travis Williams said.
“Over the years, we’ve donated resources, held gameday promotions, shared local programming, and undertaken joint relief efforts in times of regional tragedy ranging the COVID-19 pandemic to recovery efforts in the wake of storms and natural disasters.”
Recently, Pirates Charities and 84 Lumber hosted a drive-through food distribution event for the Veterans Leadership Program at PNC Park in June, which provided hundreds of local food-insecure veterans with a tote bag full of pantry items and fresh produce. Pirates Charities also donated $20,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to support emergency response efforts in the aftermath of severe thunderstorms that swept through the Pittsburgh region.
In addition, in partnership with Sheetz, the Pirates packed 1,000 food boxes for Pittsburgh Public School students to help bridge the gap between the end of the school year and the start of summer feeding programs. Food items were distributed to the students on the last day of school.
Efforts to address food insecurity were also part of this year's Roberto Clemente Day of Service in September. Throughout the day, Pirates players, coaches and front office staff cooked meals for the Women's Shelter of Pittsburgh, restocked the Latino Community Center's food panty and packed 200 backpacks with snacks for the youngsters there, supported another food distribution event with the Veterans Leadership Program and provided meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
An initiative that has received a lot of publicity has been the Thanksgiving dinner drive-through distribution event the Pirates have at PNC Park in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Giant Eagle and the Penguins and Steelers. For the fifth straight year, more than 300 area families in need will be provided with Thanksgiving dinner -- including turkey, produce, sides and dessert -- as well as a Giant Eagle gift card.
This year, efforts related to the holiday will also include helping the Light of Life Rescue Mission provide supplies to pack 2,800 Thanksgiving dinner boxes that will feed more than 22,000 people. The Pirates have also provided financial support to Light of Life's year-round feeding programs.
In early September, a Hunger Action Month press conference was held at PNC Park as the Pirates joined the bipartisan legislative Hunger Caucus and leaders of food insecurity organizations from across Pennsylvania to highlight past and present efforts to address hunger.
It was following the Pirates’ $10,000 sponsorship of the 2025 Capitol All-Stars softball game -- an annual event that raises money to fight food insecurity -- that State Representative Emily Kinkead approached the team about hosting the press event. She was also aware of the Pirates’ efforts related to food insecurity on other fronts.
“In my time as the house chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Hunger Caucus, I have only seen food insecurity get worse across our Commonwealth and our nation,” Kinkead, the state representative for the 20th legislative district, said. “So having organizations with the power and footprint of the Pittsburgh Pirates step up and step into the gap has never been more important.
“I am grateful for their work to bring attention to this very solvable problem, and their efforts to actually solve it. This is what we need from our community partners because we are going to see more people in Pennsylvania hungry. It's going to get worse if we do not act.”
“As the need continues to grow, the Pirates are proud to stand with our community partners, local and state leaders, and the countless neighbors who are dedicated to building a strong region and a brighter, hunger-free future,” added Patrick Joyal, director of public affairs for the Pirates.