Olean Food Pantry’s New Year’s Resolutions for 2025
We’re always excited to usher in a new year here at Olean Food Pantry. To be sure, 2024 was a banner year for OFP as we received several large grants and community donations on levels never before seen. While reflecting on our progress, we’re also setting our sights on ambitious goals for 2025.
In this blog, we’ll highlight some of our New Year’s resolutions while recounting some successes from the previous year. The starting line of a new year offers the best perspective on accomplishing our mission of ending local food insecurity.
The Path Forward: A New Year for Growth & Service at Our Local Food Pantry
In 2025, we’re committed to continuing our fight against hunger while expanding our efforts to build stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities. Here are our top resolutions for the year ahead:
1. Launching Our New Roof & Solar Panel Project
We have a lot of work to do when it comes to Olean Food Pantry’s facilities in the near future. Not only do we aim to build the capacity to serve a greatly expanding client base, but we also look toward a more environmentally sustainable future.
OFP is seeking grant funding to replace the aging roof and install solar panels at our 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean location. This project represents a bold step toward energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. Solar panels will produce an estimated annual savings of over $10,000 in utility costs. Through the years, we’ll be able to reinvest roughly $200,000 of those funds into food and supplies purchases.
The solar panels will not only reduce our carbon footprint, but will also position Olean Food Pantry as a leader in the regional push toward green energy. This year, we’re making sustainability a cornerstone of our operations, proving that environmental responsibility and community service go hand in hand.
2. Continuing the $1 Million Fundraising Campaign
Our $1 Million Fundraising Campaign, launched in early 2024, is gaining momentum! Thanks to generous donors and grants, we’ve already secured roughly $100,000 – and we’re just getting started. Last year, we raised a record $35,450 on Cattaraugus Gives Day, in addition to numerous grants supporting everything from food purchases to new freezer units.
This ambitious campaign aims to secure funding for the next decade of operations, including:
- Direct food distribution to thousands of families.
- Essential facility upgrades like refrigeration systems and expanded floor space.
- A safer and more accessible parking lot.
- Technology and marketing communications
In 2025, we’ll continue engaging local businesses, major gift donors and nonprofit grants to ensure we meet this goal.
3. Strengthening Community Partnerships
Olean Food Pantry recognizes that solving food insecurity requires a collaborative effort. This year, we’ll prioritize building stronger partnerships with local organizations, schools and businesses. Together, we can create robust safety nets and expand access to vital resources for families in need.
One key focus will be connecting clients to services that address the continuum of poverty-related challenges, from housing and healthcare to job training and education.
4. Reducing Food Waste
Food waste is a pressing issue that almost always goes overlooked. Even the most environmentally conscious families and organizations don’t notice how much food they actually waste. According to Feeding America, nearly 70 billion pounds of food go to waste in the U.S. each year.
Olean Food Pantry is committed to doing our part. In 2025, we’ll implement new strategies to ensure that every pound of food donated is put to good use. Whether through careful inventory management, partnerships with local farms and organizations, or creative recipe ideas shared with clients, we’ll work to limit waste and maximize impact.
5. Promoting Sustainable Local Farming
We’re proud of our partnerships with area farms, which often provide surplus crops to serve people in need. But those farmers need our support, too! It’s a tough profession, and their efforts toward feeding the masses often go unappreciated.
We believe that helping local farmers is essential to building healthier, more resilient communities. This year, we’ll increase efforts to source fresh produce and other goods from farms and community gardens, ensuring our clients receive nutritious, high-quality food while boosting the local economy.
Additionally, we’ll advocate for sustainable farming practices that protect our region’s natural resources and strengthen the local food system for future generations.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Olean Food Pantry’s New Year’s Resolutions
With these New Year’s resolutions guiding our efforts, Olean Food Pantry is poised to make 2025 a year of growth, innovation and impact. We’re deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers and partners who make our work possible.
Together, we can ensure that no one in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties goes hungry — and that our community thrives for years to come. Here’s to a year of hope, action and progress.
Click here to donate to Olean Food Pantry TODAY!
