Kelsey Boudin

Hunger is more than a feeling. It’s more than uncertainty and stress, more than poverty, and greater than the sum of all societal issues that cause it. Food insecurity impacts families in real ways – especially children.

Food insecurity for children is essentially an issue all its own in the greater narrative surrounding the war on hunger. Some 60 million Americans struggle with finding their next meal – of which 12 MILLION are children. The consequences of hunger are dire to these millions of infants, children and adolescents.

In this blog, we’ll explore how food insecurity impacts children from their physical and emotional health to academics to social development.

Food Insecurity for Children: It’s More Than Going To Bed Hungry

We talk a lot about our vision for a world where no one goes to bed hungry. But in reality, “going to bed hungry” is merely a symptom of hunger. For millions of children, hunger is a reality that can trap them in a cycle of hunger and poverty indefinitely.

The lack of consistent access to nutritious food for an active, healthy life is a major issue impacting children worldwide. 

That’s a good place for us to begin.

Physical Health 

The consequences of food insecurity extend far beyond the pains of an empty stomach. The most direct consequence of food insecurity for children is damage to their physical health. Inadequate access to food can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth and a weakened immune system, leading to myriad other potentially devastating health conditions. 

Children experiencing food insecurity are more susceptible to illnesses and are at risk of long-term health problems. Malnourished children face difficulty recovering from even the common cold, causing them to miss school more frequently and for greater durations. 

The impact on their overall well-being can carry into adulthood.

Learning Development 

Nutrition plays a CRUCIAL role in cognitive development. Ideally, children and adolescents learn both at school and at play. Without regularly consuming the right nutrients, concentration and academic ability tend to suffer dramatically. 

But kids aren’t just finding it difficult to concentrate on an empty stomach. 

Chronic hunger impairs cognitive function, hindering a child’s capacity to process information and develop essential skills. Research has shown that children who lack proper nutrition are more likely to have learning disabilities, lower academic scores and a higher likelihood of having to repeat a grade. 

Lacking nutrition can also contribute to fatigue and a decreased ability for children to participate in beneficial extracurricular activities and sports.  

Behavioral & Emotional Consequences 

Food insecurity for children can also manifest in behavioral and emotional challenges. The stress and anxiety associated with uncertainty about the availability of food can lead to behavioral issues. And again, lacking nutrition inhibits brain development and function, which can have negative consequences regulating mood and good behavior.

This can look like aggression, withdrawal and difficulty in social interactions. Emotional well-being is closely tied to nutritional health, and the emotional toll of food insecurity can affect a child’s mental health throughout their life.

Long-Term Impact on Future Opportunities 

The long-term consequences of childhood hunger shape the trajectory of a child’s life. Poverty and food insecurity for children are tough cycles to break. Generational poverty at times seems like a supernatural force that solidifies the fate of millions of children.

Just as it’s difficult for parents/guardians to work out of poverty while hungry, the obstacles facing food-insecure kids place them perpetually at a disadvantage. Here at the northernmost tip of Appalachia, poverty and food insecurity have devastated families for decades.

Facing a never-ending cycle of food insecurity, malnourished children are more likely later to struggle finding stable employment and economic independence. 

Fighting Childhood Hunger: Olean Food Pantry is Here to Help 

Addressing food insecurity among children is crucial for building a healthier, more thriving society. Local organizations like the Olean Food Pantry strive daily to not only provide nutritious food to people in need, but also to help families with nutrition education and other services that help to break the cycle of hunger. 

The hidden consequences of food insecurity on children’s health and education should call us all to action to help future generations. We can work toward making a change – and it starts at the local level! Advocacy, policy change and community-driven initiatives are essential in breaking the cycle of food insecurity. 

Cash donations allow Olean Food Pantry to purchase 66% MORE FOOD than donations of non-perishable food items alone. Thank you for your donation today!

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, 19-year-old Daniel found purpose in volunteering at a food pantry in Houma, LA. His story mirrors the broader challenge faced by communities across the nation. He’s one of a million or more food pantry volunteers who strive to address hunger in America one meal at a time.

Volunteers and donors – both big and small – are the frontline heroes in the fight against hunger. Their passion for helping others in need is easy enough to understand. Achieving our collective vision of a world where no one goes to bed hungry takes some understanding of the scale of the issue nationwide AND the local realities driving people in droves to grassroots food pantries just like ours.  

Hunger in America: Addressing the Food Insecurity Crisis One Community at a Time

Understanding the food insecurity crisis in its entirety is as complicated an issue as they come. And the need only grows. Local food pantries across the U.S. collectively serve millions of individuals and families every day. 

Addressing hunger in America must happen community by community. Here at the Olean Food Pantry, the good people we serve experience distinct realities daily. Poverty is real everywhere. Generational poverty is a shared experience for millions from rural Western New York to urban Los Angeles. But the faces of hunger are diverse.

It’s not as black and white as poor vs. rich or haves vs. have nots. Hunger impacts the family that lost everything in a fire. It requires direct action from the local school teacher stocking a cupboard with snacks for kids with empty cupboards at home. The laid-off hospital worker trying to feed her family and the elderly widow may struggle equally to put food on the table, although their reasons for visiting a local food pantry are quite different.     

Exploring the Realities of Food Insecurity in America

Let’s dive into the intricacies of food insecurity and supporting the war on hunger. It’s helpful to explore the shifts in hunger in America since March 2020. Since the pandemic, Olean Food Pantry has seen a 95.4% increase in clients served. Simply put, the community need has ALMOST DOUBLED! 

And while the public health threat from Covid-19 has diminished, the related economic impacts that drive hunger remain to this day in communities across the U.S. 

Food Banks Across America Serve Millions

In 2020, a staggering 60 million people in the United States sought assistance from food banks, food pantries and community food programs. This translates to 1 in every 5 people grappling with food insecurity, showcasing the immense impact on households nationwide.

And it only got worse, especially here in the greater Olean, NY area. 

As we said, here at the northernmost tip of impoverished Appalachia, the need has nearly doubled. How many people does the Olean Food Pantry serve today? From January 2022 through September 2023, OFP served more than 39,000 people – nearly 2,000 per month! 

Tracking Food Assistance in the U.S.

How do we effectively track hunger in America? It’s not as if each individual organization addressing food insecurity shares data in real time. 

We certainly collect information and data on activities at our local food pantry, but there’s no overarching governing body to which each organization reports. We must rely on a combination of nationwide organizations like Feeding America, nationwide demographic data and surveys to analyze the staggering scale of hunger. 

Feeding America distributed over six billion meals last year. Networks collaborating with organizations like the Urban Institute, the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics have estimated that some 60 million people are recipients of food assistance from charitable food programs.

The USDA’s annual household survey revealed a sobering reality — more than 38 million people, or 1 in 8, lived in food-insecure households in 2020. The report further emphasizes that 12 million of those affected are children. Food insecurity is marked by a persistent lack of access to sufficient food for a healthy and active life. 

What Do These Food Insecurity Numbers Mean?

It’s essential to address the difference in numbers between those visiting food banks and the total number facing hunger. While such a high percentage of Americans receive assistance from local food pantries and other organizations, even more are hesitant to seek help.

Why? Well, there’s a stigma about food insecurity associated with poverty. Many report not wanting to be seen at their local food pantry receiving what others might judge as “a free handout.” Others may underestimate their need or selflessly believe others need food assistance much more. Still others require nutrition education and other resources to improve their lives.

Local food pantries, supported by generous donors, have effectively reduced the number of households considered food insecure. This success is attributed to the adaptability of food banks, increased donations and bipartisan support for federal hunger programs.

Yet so much more work remains to end hunger in America.

Sustaining Progress in the Fight Against Hunger

While the pandemic prompted many successful responses to hunger, including at the Olean Food Pantry, many of these initiatives are temporary. Community need persists now in different ways that are dictated by inflation and dramatic increases in the cost of living.  

Long-term support is now crucial to eradicating hunger. Success requires more than providing food alone. Here are three actionable ways to contribute:

• Advocate for the expansion of federal programs like Summer EBT and the Child Tax Credit to alleviate child poverty.
• Contribute financially to frontline organizations like local food banks, ensuring efficient responses to evolving challenges.
• Volunteer your time at food banks or meal programs, as many still require support to maintain operations.

Let’s Work Together to End Hunger in America

As a nation, we’ve demonstrated the power of unity in tackling hunger. But the battle against hunger in America is far from over. Sustained efforts and flexibility alongside evolving needs are crucial. 

By working together, advocating for change and supporting charitable initiatives, we can pave the way to a future in which hunger is eradicated. 

Donate to the Olean Food Pantry today, and here are some other ways to help!

The Olean Food Pantry combats food insecurity and provides a lifeline to local families in need. How many people does the Olean Food Pantry serve? Let’s have a look at some recent stats. From January 2022 through September 2023, Olean Food Pantry served 39,111 people between Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

That’s an average of 1,862 per month! By that figure, it’s easy to estimate that Olean Food Pantry serves over 1,000 households experiencing food insecurity each month. A combination of return and new clients seek resources for themselves and loved ones including a vast selection of nutritious food and other services. 

The individuals and families families served are primarily from Allegany County and Cattaraugus County in southwestern New York. Roughly 84% of our total clientele come from Cattaraugus County. The Olean Food Pantry also has traditionally seen clients from neighboring Steuben, Chautauqua and Erie counties in New York, as well as McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania.

Olean Food Pantry Fights Hunger in Our Communities

In a recent blog post, we analyzed the meteoric rise of food insecurity in America. To our communities here in the northernmost tip of Appalachia – the poorest region of the U.S. – the hunger reality is that much more profound.

The last 3 years, the Olean Food Pantry has seen a 95.4% increase in people served. In general, 1 in 7 people experience food insecurity in America. The spike in need began with the Covid pandemic and continues today due to a rough economy. The increased need shows no sign of slowing. (It’s worth noting that OFP still serves hundreds of people each month even in a good economy.)

While we strive mightily in the war on food insecurity, the need is much greater than any one organization or individual can solve alone. That’s why we urge community members and prospective donors to contribute in any way they can. That also involves donating and volunteering at other worthy community organizations that serve families in need in other ways.

It takes a village!

What You Need To Know About the Olean Food Pantry

Our commitment shines through a remarkable initiative in which we distribute six days’ worth of food per person. That equates to 18 meals per person. We do this for hundreds of families every month.

We also ensure families are able to receive well-balanced and nutritious items via:

• Healthy produce grown on-site
• Partnerships with local farmers & grocers
• Work with local nonprofits
• “Shopper’s choice” grocery-style food selection
• Volunteer assistants guiding healthy choices & recipes

The pantry is open 2 days a week: each Monday 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm and Friday 10 am to 2 pm. During these days, the pantry becomes a hub of support for people in need. 

We also have a Mobile Food Pantry truck each month that delivers fresh produce and perishable items directly to our communities. The Mobile Food Pantry is held the last Thursday of each month. This ensures people who can’t make it directly to our main location (8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean) still receive the same opportunity to receive food.

Olean Food Pantry: Who Is Eligible to be Served? 

Olean Food Pantry – in partnership with FeedMore WNY and the USDA – now serves individuals and families who live in Cattaraugus, Allegany, Erie, and Niagara counties in Western New York. Although, no one in need will be turned away. OFP stands as an ally uniting communities and serving people who need easier access to their next meal.  

For any questions, contact us here.

Every year, we’re overjoyed with the amount of support for the Olean Food Pantry. Caring people in our communities generously give in any way they can. Area elementary schools and youth sports organizations host canned food drives. Friends and neighbors donate holiday meals or what’s left in their own pantries after reorganizing. Community members even pick up items for their local food pantry as a regular part of their weekly shopping lists.

Those gifts are truly appreciated. Without fantastic givers LIKE YOU, we wouldn’t be able to provide free food and other valuable services to thousands of families and individuals in need each month. But there’s a way to help the generosity stretch further than ever before.

Cash donations help your local food pantry SERVE 66% MORE than donations of perishable and nonperishable food items alone.

Want To Help Your Local Food Pantry? A Cash Donation Goes 66% Further!

So our shelves are perpetually stocked. Walk through the aisles at the Olean Food Pantry and you’ll see no shortage of canned goods, fresh vegetables, frozen meats and fish, and so much more. We even have the Diaper Depot, Pet Pantry, and other services for people in need.

But supplies go so quickly! Even with an abundance of food donations, a particularly busy month always leaves your local food pantry scrambling for more to serve skyrocketing food insecurity in our communities.

Cash donations, on the other hand, allow us to purchase food FOR CHEAP! Much cheaper than the rates available to shoppers at the grocery store. That’s because, with our status as a nonprofit food bank, we get preferred rates from partner organizations like FeedMore WNY, local farmers, and grocers. 

Putting the Numbers in Perspective

So how much is 66% more? Let’s put that in perspective:

• A $10 donation buys $16.60 worth of food.
• A $50 donation buys $83 worth of food.
• A $500 donation buys $830 worth of food.
• A $1,000 donation buys $1,660 worth of food.

In short, cash donations give the Olean Food Pantry that much more firepower to purchase food and ensure our stockpiles NEVER run out!

How Else Do Cash Donations Help Your Local Food Pantry?

We thought you’d never ask! There are plenty of other ways cash donations go so far for your local food pantry. So let’s look at our mission beyond being a purveyor of canned goods.  

Flexibility

Food donations alone are undoubtedly so valuable, but monetary contributions offer a unique avenue for significant impact. Specifically? Monetary donations offer flexibility. That means we can make food selections and program choices in accordance with OUR LOCAL NEEDS. 

While food insecurity is a reality around the world, the way it is experienced varies community by community. We know from experience that the Olean area’s needs are distinct from the needs in Rochester – and vastly different from rural Alabama to urban San Francisco.

With cash donations on hand, we can determine our own expenses in accordance with local need and without decision-making interference from third parties.

Efficiency & Cost-Effectiveness

Allocating resources efficiently is vital to a local food pantry. Pantries with monetary donations enjoy the mission-sustaining benefits of:

• Bulk purchasing
• Special discounts 
• Partnerships with local vendors

Of course, all of this allows us to diversify our product streams and receive a better assortment of nutritious food for families in need.  

Emergency Response

In times of crisis, donations are a priceless resource. Local food pantries are able to adjust and respond to emergencies, ensuring communities have the support when it is needed most.

In emergencies like the Flood of ’72, the Olean Food Pantry would be the first place many of the displaced would use to feed their families. Financial flexibility would also allow us to respond to natural disasters in other areas of the country, if necessary. After all, we all need help from our neighbors from time to time.   

Grant Funding

Did you know the Olean Food Pantry and many other nonprofit food banks also depend upon grant funding. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, it’s our responsibility to fundraise responsibly and ethically. That requires strong financial management and diversifying revenue sources.

Here’s something many people don’t know about nonprofit fundraising: organizations must be financially sustainable and be able to prove ample cashflow to be eligible for most grant funding opportunities.   

Sometimes grant processes require organizations to provide “match funding” as “skin in the game.”  

Organizational Costs

Local food pantries, like any organization, must pay for operational costs. These costs may include rent/mortgage, construction/repairs, transportation and utilities. Financial contributions help to cover these overhead expenses, allowing for pantries to run efficiently and sustainably.

Unlike food donations, cash donations empower the Olean Food Pantry board to address immediate needs and emergencies to continue serving the public uninterrupted.

Ready to Make a Difference for Your Local Food Pantry?

You may be wondering how YOU can make a difference. Consider donating to the Olean Food Pantry, or another local food pantry near you. Whether it’s a one-time gift or recurring contribution, your support can make a lasting impact on the lives of those facing food insecurity in YOUR community.  

If you’d like to know more about the Olean Food Pantry – or to become a valued recurring donor – contact us here.

In the quiet corners of our communities, there exists an army of heroes – the local food pantries and the good folks who work so hard to run them. Places like Olean Food Pantry stand on the frontline, addressing every urgent need for those facing food insecurity.

Local food pantries are symbols of hope in times of difficulty. On the days we’re open, our friends and neighbors show up in droves to get food for themselves and their families that week. Believe it or not, they come from all walks of life. While many are experiencing the generational poverty that is so common in our region, many others simply need a boost to get the nutrition they and their families need.

The faces of hunger include:

• The local factory worker who was recently laid off.
• The new mother who can’t afford baby formula after all her monthly bills are paid.
• The next door neighbor whose retirement portfolio tanked.
• The college kid whose minimum wage job leaves little to eat after books and tuition.

The list goes on. People like these, among millions of others, are visiting local food pantries whenever necessary to get the sustenance they need just to live normal lives. Despite the common unfair narrative that people who struggle with food insecurity are “just lazy,” it’s quite obvious that’s not at all the case. We can attest that of the more than 1,000 individuals and families who depend on the Olean Food Pantry each month, the majority are either hard-working young adults or senior citizens who need a little help to get by.  

Behind their stories, are the good volunteers who support them.

Beyond the Shelves: Local Food Pantries Work to Ensure No One Goes to Bed Hungry

These humble spaces embody the vision that someday no one goes to sleep hungry. The consistent presences offer reassurance that creates a safety net for those needing it.   Volunteers, donors and clients come together to form a web of care that bonds the community together.  

Volunteers and donors are the frontline heroes in the fight against hunger. They selflessly give their time, effort, and both food and cash donations to make local food pantries what they are.  

Local Food Pantries Have One Common Goal: To End Hunger  

This shared mission becomes a powerful force, reinforcing the belief that not one person should have to face hunger alone. This mission involves so much more than providing food alone.  

Local food pantries become hubs of education through providing workshops and outreach programs. We empower the community and clients with knowledge about: 

• Healthy nutrition choices
• How to budget
• Sustainable living
• & More 

Volunteers support our “shoppers choice” distribution method at the Olean Food Pantry by providing assistance, nutritional guidance and healthy recipe options. By helping to provide these resources of learning, food pantries help to pave the way for lasting change in the war against hunger.  

How Can You Help the War on Hunger?

More than serving as food distributors, local food pantries recognize the depth of the food insecurity issue in communities around the world. But we also recognize its root causes and how to address them from the local level. Our local communities served by the Olean Food Pantry collectively show distinct symptoms of food insecurity, as well as root causes only we know how to address effectively.

Food pantries elsewhere in the United States are best suited to serve their communities, too! Acknowledging that hunger can touch anyone, these pantries treat individuals and families with respect, never making one feel ashamed for needing help.

This is why cash donations are just as important – if not more important – than food donations alone. Cash donations allow us to procure MORE food from regional food banks like FeedMore WNY, as well as purchasing from local grocers and fellow nonprofits at preferred rates. In fact, cash donations allow us to get 66% MORE food in the long run!

(Of course, non-perishable food donations are ALWAYS welcome!)

The unsung heroes at local food pantries continue to manage this battle against hunger – one individual and community served at a time. The impact positively affects the lives of many, so let’s support and recognize pantries as they fight the biggest fight. 

Let’s end hunger, together! 

Let’s take a look at one of the most unsettling realities facing Americans today: the alarming rise of food insecurity in America. In a nation known for obesity, abundant processed food and obsessions with over-the-top meals, there’s a silent struggle happening in millions of people’s lives. 

Food insecurity is a socioeconomic disparity on par with crises like the opioid epidemic. Believe it or not, it can be just as deadly and devastating for a variety of reasons. It’s both a symptom and a cause of generational poverty – a vicious cycle so many great organizations like ours are working to address at all levels.

Of course, our focus at the Olean Food Pantry is local. We’re primarily concerned with the 150,000 or so residents of Cattaraugus County and Allegany County in southwestern New York. The rise in need we’ve seen recently is nothing short of astonishing. Here in the communities served by the Olean Food Pantry, food insecurity has caused a 95.4 percent increase in clientele the last 3 years.

That’s 95.4%! The need has ALMOST DOUBLED in less than half a decade.

That’s thousands of families and individuals in need entering the Olean Food Pantry’s doors every month, looking for their next meal. Let’s examine why.

Food Insecurity in Olean, NY: What’s Behind the Colossal Rise in Community Need?

Here are just a few reasons that so many more people are coming to the Olean Food Pantry every month. We’re committed to serving EACH AND EVERY ONE of them, as no one is turned away.

Dollars & Sense: The Unequal Economic Feast

The economic pie is getting bigger overall, but not everyone gets an equal slice. There’s a growing gap between people who have and have not, which leaves people without a seat at the dinner table. 

Thanks to inflation, the price of consumer goods, utilities and fuel have increased over 20% since 2021. People are struggling. Many must make difficult decisions between paying bills and putting food on the table. It’s something that needs to be discussed. But that’s a multilayered conversation with political and societal implications.

No matter the reasons, food insecurity in the Olean, NY area remains a critical issue that sends people in droves seeking help. And it’s important to remember, hunger ALWAYS exists whether the economy is good or bad.

Pandemic Pantry Raid

Covid-19 rocked the world just a few short years ago, causing tens of millions to lose their jobs and altering the nature of work indefinitely. Food insecurity sent a majority of those left unemployed or underemployed to their local food pantry for the first time. 

Those testing years were even more pronounced in our already impoverished region, jobs vanished, businesses disappeared, and household stability crumbled. Basic needs became harder to meet. While the Covid threat remains to a lesser extent, many of those millions are back to work. Yet, many of the nation’s lowest earners still have not recovered.

Food banks like the Olean Food Pantry are unsung heroes – from the pandemic and beyond – for those who couldn’t afford groceries.

Healthy Hunger Games 

Food insecurity and health problems engage in a relentless dance. A lack of nutritious food leads to many health issues. This is also a vicious cycle. Poverty. Illness. Poverty. Illness. By focusing on the root causes we can break it.

The Olean Food Pantry doesn’t just provide food for the sake of providing food. We provide HEALTHY food options, avoiding cheaper processed foods for our clients to receive great nutrition. OFP has its own outdoor and indoor gardens, which produce fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and most of the year. In partnership with local nonprofit gardens like Canticle Farm, as well as regional growers and grocers, we’re able to provide nutritious produce year-round.

With the “shopper’s choice” methodology, Olean Food Pantry visitors can peruse our aisles for healthy food. Volunteer shopping assistants also advise on smart food choices and recipes. 

Calling YOU to Action in the Fight Against Local Food Insecurity 

This rise of food insecurity demands acknowledgment and calls for a response. Our community-driven initiatives at the Olean Food Pantry provide, educate and empower.

The responsibility falls on everyone from community leaders to average citizens. Together, we can bridge the divide and ensure a meal for every person on every table.  No one deserves to go to bed hungry.

Olean Food Pantry accepts donations of both food and cash. (Cash donations allow us to purchase 66% more food than food donations alone.)