In canning weekends past, THON organizations have been prohibited from canning within Pittsburgh city limits. However, this Saturday, January 22, canister solicitations will be permitted in the city.

Pittsburgh law only allows charitable organizations to solicit funds on one day of a calendar year. Saturday marks the only opportunity for canning trips to fundraise within the city for the 2011 year.

In order to receive permits to can, groups were required to register their trip by Monday, January 10. The process for canning location registration was a bit lengthier than for trips to other locations, and groups that did not complete all the steps risked their trips being penalized. Before the start of the third canning weekend, trip leaders will be sent an official solicitation permit in order to avert any potential problems with Pittsburgh police and residents.

While this is great that Pittsburgh is allowing one-time canning, I just can’t help but wonder what the problem is with having more canning in the city. Canning is permitted in Philadelphia and trips have been featured on local news stations. Maybe Pittsburgh should take a lesson from Philadelphia and learn some brotherly love.