WE, OF COURSE, WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS STORY PLAYS OUT. WELL, IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A WEEK SINCE THE NFL DRAFT WRAPPED UP HERE IN PITTSBURGH, AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO SEE THE BENEFITS. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER AVA RASH, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM MILLVILLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION MAKING SURE LEFTOVER FOOD FROM THE BIG EVENT DOESN’T GO TO WASTE. THE NFL DRAFT HAS COME AND GONE, BUT WE’RE STILL SEEING THE EFFECTS FROM IT. JUST LIKE AT 412 FOOD RESCUE. THEY’VE ALREADY TAKEN IN THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD FROM THE DRAFT. POTATOES, CATERED MEALS, EVEN ALTOIDS FOR WHEN TWO FOOD RESCUE HAS BEEN BUSY PICKING UP THE EXCESS FOOD FOLLOWING THE NFL DRAFT. AS THE DRAFT WAS HAPPENING AND AS THE DRAFT ENDED, WE PICKED UP THEIR EXCESS FOOD AND THEN WE REDISTRIBUTED IT, REDISTRIBUTED THAT FOOD TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. AS OF THIS MORNING, IT’S COLLECTED ROUGHLY 45,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH WILL MAKE UP ROUGHLY 40,000 MEALS. DESPITE THIS, JOSH WHALEN, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, SAYS THEY BELIEVE OVERALL 60,000 POUNDS WAS ACTUALLY SAVED. WE ALSO KNOW IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF FOOD MOVED ON THE GROUND TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OUTSIDE OF OUR SYSTEM. SO 60,000 POUNDS IS DEFINITELY MOVED AND SAVED THROUGHOUT THE DRAFT. AFTER SEEING REPORTS THAT SOME RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE THE DRAFT FOOTPRINT DID NOT SEE AS MANY CUSTOMERS AS EXPECTED FOR WHEN TWO FOOD RESCUE IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE NO FOOD GOES TO WASTE. WE’RE HOPEFUL YOU’RE ABLE TO SELL THIS FOOD AND MOVE IT, BUT IN THE INSTANCE THAT YOU CAN’T, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WILL WORK WITH YOU TO FIND A DAY, A TIME AND AMOUNT THAT FITS AND MOVE THAT FOR YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT FOOD ENDS UP WITH PEOPLE AND NOT IN A LANDFILL. AND NOW, WITH THE MARATHON JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR TWO, FOOD RESCUE IS READY TO STEP IN ONCE AGAIN. WHATEVER THE MOMENT IS, WHETHER IT’S THE NFL DRAFT OR THE MARATHON OR WHAT’S YET TO COME FOR 1 OR 2, FOOD RESCUE IS HERE AND READY TO MEET THAT MOMENT
412 Food Rescue collects 45,000 pounds of food from NFL Draft
412 Food Rescue gathered tens of thousands of pounds of excess food from the NFL draft and redistributed it to communities across Allegheny County.
Updated: 12:43 PM EDT Apr 30, 2026
412 Food Rescue collected tens of thousands of pounds of excess food from the NFL draft and redistributed it to communities across Allegheny County to prevent waste. “As the draft was happening and as the draft ended, we picked up their excess food, and then we redistributed that food to communities across the city, in the county,” said Josh Weiland, vice president of operations for 412 Food Rescue. As of Thursday morning, the organization has collected roughly 45,000 pounds of food, which will provide approximately 40,000 meals. Despite this, Weiland said they believe 60,000 pounds of food were saved overall. “We also know that there was a lot of food moved on the ground to other departments outside of our system. So, 60,000 pounds was definitely moved and saved throughout the draft,” Weiland said. After reports of some restaurants outside the draft footprint not seeing as many customers as they expected, 412 Food Rescue is working to ensure no food goes to waste. “We’re hopeful you’re able to sell this food and move it. But in the instance that you can’t, please remember that we’ll work with you to find a day, a time, an amount that fits and move that for you. Make sure that food ends up with people and not in a landfill,” Weiland said. With the Pittsburgh Marathon approaching, 412 Food Rescue is prepared to step in again. “Whatever the moment is, whether it’s the NFL draft or the marathon or what’s yet to come, 412 Food Rescue is here and ready to meet that moment for communities,” Weiland said.
MILLVALE, Pa. —
412 Food Rescue collected tens of thousands of pounds of excess food from the NFL draft and redistributed it to communities across Allegheny County to prevent waste.
“As the draft was happening and as the draft ended, we picked up their excess food, and then we redistributed that food to communities across the city, in the county,” said Josh Weiland, vice president of operations for 412 Food Rescue.
As of Thursday morning, the organization has collected roughly 45,000 pounds of food, which will provide approximately 40,000 meals. Despite this, Weiland said they believe 60,000 pounds of food were saved overall.
“We also know that there was a lot of food moved on the ground to other departments outside of our system. So, 60,000 pounds was definitely moved and saved throughout the draft,” Weiland said.
After reports of some restaurants outside the draft footprint not seeing as many customers as they expected, 412 Food Rescue is working to ensure no food goes to waste.
“We’re hopeful you’re able to sell this food and move it. But in the instance that you can’t, please remember that we’ll work with you to find a day, a time, an amount that fits and move that for you. Make sure that food ends up with people and not in a landfill,” Weiland said.
With the Pittsburgh Marathon approaching, 412 Food Rescue is prepared to step in again.
“Whatever the moment is, whether it’s the NFL draft or the marathon or what’s yet to come, 412 Food Rescue is here and ready to meet that moment for communities,” Weiland said.