New To Canning?

Never canned before? No worries, there are sign ups to join members of PDM on canning trips for a stress free learning experience. Even if you have canned before, we encourage you to join our board members to start fundraising early. Just place your name in an open slot and your phone number next to your name!

Canning 101

Below is a heavily detailed guideline for canning in and around the Pittsburgh area. Ashley Petko, the Canning Chair, put this together so canning can become easier and more familiar to people who have never canned before. If you have any questions or concerns, contact her at anp228@pitt.edu

1. Go to the Canning Signups 2023-2024 document in the drive.
   • Pick a day that works for you and add your name!
   • If you are not a member but would like to can for the organization, put your team name and phone number in parentheses beside your name.
2. Wait to be added to a GroupMe containing all of those going on your canning trip.
   • I create the groups (typically) on Sundays
   • If it is Monday and you haven’t been added to a group yet for your trip, send me a message!
   • If you sign up to can after Sunday, during the week of your trip, let me know so you can be added to your group.
3. Discuss in the trip’s GroupMe when/where to meet before your canning trip.
   • It is best to be at the event’s location 1 hour before the event begins, but plan as a group when works best for everyone.
   • NEVER GO CANNING ALONE! If you are the only person signed up when it comes time for your trip, try to recruit some friends (lmk), or switch your date.
4. Get your cans.
   • Staff from years past may already have their own can. If you do not, please pick them up from the 6th floor of WPU in the CCLD office. 
   • You can decide upon a person or two who can go and retrieve cans for the whole group, or everyone can go on their own. 
   • Scan the QR code to sign out your can so that we can keep track of them 
5. Meet to go canning!
   • Have at least one group member bring along a backpack/bag to put the cans in so you are not carrying money openly on the public bus.
   • Direction
     • If going to PPG Paints Arena, meet at the stop Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave (across the street from Towers) and catch any of the following (inbound) busses: 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, or 71A. Get off at the Fifth Ave/Washington Pl stop directly outside of the arena.
     • If going to Heinz Field, meet at the stop Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave (across the street from Towers) and catch any of the following (inbound) busses: 61A, 61B, 61C, or 71B. Get off at the Sixth Ave/Wood St stop by Wood Street Station. Enter the station and take any train to North Side Station (closer to tailgating lots) or Allegheny Station (closer to the stadium).
     • If going to Stage AE, meet at the stop Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave (across the street from Towers) and catch any of the following (inbound) busses: 61A, 61B, 61C, or 71B. Get off at the Sixth Ave/Wood St stop by Wood Street Station. Enter the station and take any train to North Side Station.
     • If going to PNC Park, meet at the stop Fifth Ave opp. Thackeray Ave (across the street from towers) and catch any of the following (inbound) busses: 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 71A, or 71B. Get off at the Sixth Ave/Centre Ave stop by Steel Plaza Station. Enter the station and take any train to North Side Station. 
6. Once your arrive, find the right place to stand.
   • At PPG Paints Arena, DO NOT stand on the side of the street near the main entrance with the flame. You can stand down the street from the main entrance near Subway, across the street from the entrance on the corners by the PNC bank, or near the parking garages. If there are other groups in those places, you can go up top near parking lots, as long as you are not too close to the building.
   • At Heinz Field and PNC Park, you are able to walk through the tailgating lots and ask for money, but go in small groups and be smart. You can also stand outside the entrances of these lots where there is a lot of pedestrian flow. Street corners are fine as long as they are not on the same sidewalk as the stadium.
   • At Stage AE, there are many restaurants/bars along the same street of the venue. It may be a good idea to catch these people as they come and go from establishments. However, do not bother the people who are eating in outdoor seating areas. You can really stand anywhere at this venue as long as you are good distance from the venue's entrance. 
7. Go home with your canning money.
   • When you are ready to leave the event location (usually when the event is starting/when pedestrian flow has majorly slowed), send a message in the GroupMe for the rest of your group to meet up.
   • Put all cans, with money in them, into a bag/backpack before going to the bus stop.
   • Direction
     • At PPG Paints Arena, walk up the street beside the PNC Bank and catch any of the following (outbound) busses at the Forbes Ave/McAnulty Dr stop: 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 71A, 71B, 71C, or 71D. Get off at Forbes Ave/Bouquet St FS if on any of the 61 busses. Get off at Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave if on any of the 71 busses.
     • At Heinz Field, walk to either North Side Station (if closer to the tailgating lots) or Allegheny Station (if closer to the stadium) and ride the train to Steel Plaza Station. Catch any of the following busses at Fifth Ave/Ross St stop: 61A, 61B, 61C, 71A, 71B, or 71D. Get off at Forbes Ave/Bouquet St FS if on any of the 61 busses. Get off at Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave if on any of the 71 busses.
     • At Stage AE, walk to North Side Station and ride the train to Steel Plaza Station. Catch any of the following busses at Fifth Ave/Ross St stop: 61A, 61B, 61C, 71A, 71B, or 71D. Get off at Forbes Ave/Bouquet St FS if on any of the 61 busses. Get off at Fifth Ave opposite Thackeray Ave if on any of the 71 busses.
     • At PNC Park, walk to either North Side Station and ride the train to Steel Plaza Station. Catch any of the following busses at Fifth Ave/Ross St. stop: 61A, 61B, 61C, 71A, 71B, or 71D. Get off at Forbes Ave/Bouquet St FS if on any of the 61 busses. Get off at Fifth Ave opp Thackeray Ave if on any of the 71 busses. 
8. When you arrive home, count the money in your can.
   • One person should take the can and count the money at home.
   • Neatly organize your money from smallest to largest bills.
   • You must use the Canning Money Turn-in Form.
   • If you are turning in money for a group of people, add all of their names in the "Name(s)" column. Put the total amount of money you have in the "Amount Raised" column. I will split the money evenly amongst all names on the form.
   • Put money and turn in form in an envelope or zip lock bag. 
9. Take your money ASAP to William Pitt Union Information Desk.
   • At the desk, let the worker know you are there to count and turn in PDM canning money with the tickets office representatives
   • They will let you in the back where you and a ticket office worker will count the money, and they will instruct you to fill out this receipt on their computer.
   • They will take the money and give you a copy of the receipt. Please keep the receipt in case I need to contact you for it.
   • Best time to turn in money: Sunday-Thursday from 8am-11pm or Friday/Saturday from 8am-12pm
10. Return your can to the Union (this can be done when you turn in money!!).
    • IF you are going on another canning trip that same week, you may keep the can with you, otherwise please return it and sign it back in
    • If the can is "yours", keep it at home! 🙂

Things to Remember

• Money will typically be put into DonorDrive every Friday 
• If you can no longer go when you are signed up for, and you’re already in a GroupMe for your trip, let me know.
• Wear PDM gear. It is an easy way to catch peoples' eyes as they walk by. If you're unable to wear gear, take along a sign! 
• HAVE FUN while canning! You are doing such a great thing by raising money for families at CHP!
• Contact me with ANY questions, comments, or concerns. I'd love to hear from you! My email is acw91@pitt.edu, my GroupMe is under Ashley Petko, and my phone number is (610)-212-5641.