As NFL Draft nears, volunteers sought in the city. What they’ll do

Pittsburgh area organizations are combining their talents to help the city put its best foot forward before an estimated 500,000 visitors or more come on April 23-25 for the 2026 NFL Draft.

These efforts will focus on environmental improvements and preventing food waste, and volunteers are needed to help with many of the planned projects.

“The NFL Draft is more than a three-day event; it’s an opportunity to create lasting, positive impact,” said Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of Visit Pittsburgh, in a March 9 announcement by the Pittsburgh Local Organizing Committee (POC).

“From expanding our urban tree canopy to reducing food waste and beautifying our region, we are committed to ensuring this global moment leaves our community stronger than before.”

Planting trees across Allegheny County

The City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division plans to remove “a limited number” of trees in March around the NFL Draft location on the North Shore “to accommodate temporary event infrastructure and public safety requirements,” according to the POC announcement.

However, there are plans to also plant about 300 new trees in the city this year, the announcement said.

Meanwhile, the POC is working with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) and the Heinz Endowments to plant another 400 trees across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County in 2026 and 2027.

Conservancy volunteers will plant trees in March in the Strip District, Springdale and McKeesport, and planting events are planned in April in the Blawnox and South Side Flats neighborhoods and in other locations, according to the WPC events calendar.

Those willing to help with the tree planting can register at the conservancy’s events and volunteer opportunities page or contact Shawn Terrell, the community engagement coordinator, at [email protected] or 412-586-2327.

The POC is also working with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) to plant 100 trees in neighborhoods that do not have adequate tree coverage, the POC announcement said.

“Major moments like the NFL Draft bring incredible energy to our city, and we’re proud to ensure that this one leaves a living legacy,” said Catherine Qureshi, the parks conservancy’s CEO, in the announcement.

“By planting 100 trees in neighborhoods that need them most, we’re making an investment that will benefit Pittsburghers not just this season, but for generations to come.”

Visit pittsburghparks.org/volunteer/ for information about volunteer opportunities with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

The Black and Gold–and Green

Local organizations also need volunteers to plant flowers and clean up litter dumped along roadways, waterways and green spaces around the city before visitors arrive for the NFL Draft, according to the POC announcement.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is leading a beautification project that will install 400 hanging flower baskets in the downtown and in the three Sister Bridges area, and also plant yellow and black-inspired pansies in 420 street planters around the downtown, the POC said.

Trees and perennial plants will also be placed in the General Robinson Community Flower Garden, a new green space that’s under development in the city.

Funding for these projects comes from the Eden Hall Foundation, Laurel Foundation and the Colcom Foundation. To volunteer for these and other WPC projects, contact Shawn Terrell, community engagement coordinator, at [email protected] or 412-586-2327.

Allegheny CleanWays is also coordinating a refuse collection project that honors an iconic play in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

The ‘Immaculate Collection’ project includes clean-up events across the city in March and April, where volunteers will collect discarded litter and debris along waterways and green spaces before the NFL Draft begins.

Visit the Immaculate Collection website to register as a volunteer at one of the upcoming collection events.

Food that serves those in need

Pittsburgh also has a plan to avoid food waste at NFL Draft-sanctioned events through a partnership with 412 Food Rescue, the Heinz Endowments and the help of local volunteers.

Each day, 412 Food Rescue volunteers collect fresh surplus food from stores, caterers and other partner organizations; the food is then distributed to local nonprofits to help feed people living with food insecurity, according to the organization’s website.

Working with 412 Food Rescue and its Food Rescue Hero volunteers to recover surplus food from NFL Draft-sanctioned events is expected “to redistribute the equivalent of approximately 50,000 meals to people in need” rather than passing it to a landfill, the POC announcement said.

“When you put the right tools in the hands of committed volunteers, regular people can turn potential waste into abundance at an extraordinary scale,” said Alyssa Cholodofsky, the organization’s CEO, in the POC announcement.

“The model built in Pittsburgh is now fighting food insecurity and methane emissions across North America, and the NFL Draft is an incredible opportunity to demonstrate what it can accomplish.”

Visit 412foodrescue.org/volunteer/ for more information about the 412 Food Rescue Program and how to become a Food Rescue Hero volunteer.