A Heartfelt Thank You: $35,450 Raised on Cattaraugus Gives Day

All of us here at Olean Food Pantry couldn’t be more thrilled. Our Cattaraugus Gives Day campaign on Dec. 3 raised $35,450 toward the local war on hunger! The extraordinary generosity of our community, donors and other supporters demonstrates the spirit of our region and its commitment to fighting the battles that matter.

Cattaraugus Gives Day takes place annually on Giving Tuesday. It’s a chance for local people to contribute directly to the nonprofit missions they value most. Although it’s not a competition, finishing second in fundraising across all of Cattaraugus County is a testament to the value we bring to people in need.

The funds raised Tuesday – more than doubling last year’s Cattaraugus Gives Day total – will go toward OFP’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign. This year’s total represents our best-ever Cattaraugus Gives result!

But that’s not all. Earlier this year, we received a generous $25,000 matching grant from a family foundation that, while wishing to remain anonymous, has chosen to make a transformative impact on our efforts. This matching grant made every dollar donated during Cattaraugus Gives Day go TWICE AS FAR — a monumental step forward for our nonprofit mission.

How These Cattaraugus Gives Funds Will Help Olean Food Pantry

The $1 Million Fundraising Campaign is our ambitious initiative to secure the funding necessary to sustain and grow the Olean Food Pantry’s operations for the next 10 years. This fundraiser focuses on:

• Local donations from community members who believe in our work.
• Corporate sponsorships that build long-term partnerships.
• Nonprofit grants to fund infrastructure and operational needs.
• Major gift donors whose contributions create lasting impact.

Your generosity on Cattaraugus Gives Day has ensured that we’re well on our way toward achieving this goal. These funds will give us more financial firepower toward several different priorities. 

These include:

• Immediate needs, such as providing nutritious food and essential household items to local families.
• Long-term infrastructure projects, including a future roof replacement and solar panel installation at our Leo Moss Drive facility.
• Strategic growth opportunities, allowing us to expand our services and reach even more neighbors in need.

Every dollar raised translates to real outcomes for the families we serve – the many different faces of hunger that experience unique challenges every day. Thanks to preferred nonprofit rates and partnerships with regional food distributors, each dollar raised allows us to purchase 66% more food and household supplies to help them in their time of need.

It Takes a Village to Achieve Record-Breaking Results

This year’s incredible success would not have been possible without the hard work, vision and collaboration of so many. While extending our deepest gratitude to our community and donors, we also must thank our Board of Directors for establishing and guiding this vision. 

We also must thank our nonprofit communications consultant, Grand River Agency. Under the leadership of President & Founder Kelsey Boudin, this team once again provided strategic planning, digital marketing and fundraising expertise to make this year’s Cattaraugus Gives effort a resounding success.

What’s Next After Cattaraugus Gives?

The success of this year’s Cattaraugus Gives Day is a powerful reminder what we can achieve when we come together as a community. With your continued support, we’re making significant strides toward our fundraising goals. 

But the journey isn’t over yet. Food insecurity remains a primary issue in the communities we serve, exemplified by an over 100% increase in pantry visitors since 2020. On distribution days, we continue routinely serving record numbers of individuals and families. As we head into 2025, we’re committed to:

• Continuing to serve families across Cattaraugus, Allegany and Chautauqua counties with dignity and compassion.
• Pursuing innovative solutions, like solar energy, to ensure the sustainability of our operations for decades to come.
• Building partnerships and securing funding that will allow us to expand our reach and meet the growing needs of our communities.

Thank You for Making a Difference!

The Olean Food Pantry has served for over 70 years because of YOU — our supporters, donors and community members who believe in a world where no family goes hungry. Thanks to your record-breaking generosity, this Cattaraugus Gives Day was not just a milestone, but a movement. 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us. Let’s keep the momentum going!