Pat Gruber Memorial Food Drive
Beginning with some of its earliest years, the MNCBA has made an effort to give back to the surrounding community by hosting a food drive at its events.
Traditionally, attendees would receive $1.00 off the price of admission at the door with their food shelf donation. While the move to advance tickets and online ticketing has made the admissions process a faster, more enjoyable experience for all our attendees, it also reduced the amount of food donations we received.
Today, while supplies last, we offer as a "Thank You" gift a 2.25" limited-edition pinback button to attendees who drop-off a non-perishable food shelf donation at our MNCBA SpringCon and MNCBA FallCon conventions. These buttons showcase the unique artwork created for each show, and once they're gone — they're gone!
Our 2.25" pinback buttons are manufactured in Ohio from USA-made parts.
Food shelf donations benefit Harvest from the Heart, a food bank in South Minneapolis that provides a shopping-like experience which promotes dignity and respect for all people regardless of need. To learn more, please take a moment to watch the below interview recorded for MNCBA FallCon 2024:
Interview with Chris Pangle, Harvest from the Heart
Pat Gruber was an active, loved, and long-time volunteer for the MNCBA who passed away on March 24, 2025. Because the MNCBA's food drive was especially close to Pat's heart, the "Pat Gruber Memorial Food Drive" name was established in his memory. You can listen to Pat talk about what the MNCBA, and its food drive, meant to him in the below interview from our 2024 Kickstarter campaign:
Interview with Pat Gruber, former MNCBA Treasurer and Volunteer
Some of the most appreciated non-perishable food items to donate include peanut butter; canned foods (soups and stews, fruit, vegetables, beans, meat); whole grain pasta; and brown rice. Powdered milk and other shelf-stable ingredients such as olive oil, jarred pasta sauces, and basic spices are also great.
Learn more about donating to food shelves at FeedingAmerica.org.
