Did you know that grants play a key role in local food pantries in the battle against food insecurity in our communities? Grassroots organizations like ours always appreciate food donations from the community, but financial contributions go so much further – 66% further, to be exact. So we’re always on the hunt for grant opportunities. […]

You’re reading this on some type of digital device. That in itself is proof of the power of digital technology for food pantry community outreach. We developed a message here and promoted it. You clicked it, you’re reading it, and now you’re engaged with our mission to end hunger.  Now, multiply that impact an exponential […]

One might think our jobs here at the Olean Food Pantry are pretty straightforward. Clients line up, they receive free food, they go home. But that barely scratches the surface. From inventory management to data analytics, there are many ways digital technology today helps local food pantries in the War on Hunger. Essentially, there’s SO […]

Many in our communities remember the Flood of 1972. The remnants of Hurricane Agnes turned Olean, NY, and surrounding communities in New York and Pennsylvania into a massive disaster zone. In addition to emergency response and other community agencies, the crucial role of local food pantries in disaster response was never more apparent than during […]

In our communities, food insecurity is an issue that affects more than just physical health. Hunger also has a dramatic impact on mental health. Once again, it’s a vicious cycle of hardship that can be difficult to escape – for so many reasons. To address this widespread issue of food insecurity and mental health, we […]

There’s an often overlooked factor in the fight against hunger: food waste. Quite frankly, there’s a lot of it – and Americans seem to be the greatest culprit. So here’s Olean Food Pantry’s obligatory call for ending food waste as a critical component to seeing that food gets to the people who need it most. […]

The philosophy behind Olean Food Pantry’s mission is easy enough to understand. For over 70 years now, it’s been about neighbors helping neighbors. What better way to accomplish this than with community gardens? We know a little something about building community gardens and their amazing benefits to communities who share a common goal of sustainable […]

There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh apple or chopping up your favorite produce into a refreshing summer salad. It’s not only delicious, but also very nutritious and key to a healthy lifestyle. Among our numerous community partnerships, we hold a special place in our hearts for local farms and nonprofit farming organizations that […]

A few months back, we explored the hidden consequences of food insecurity for children in a previous blog post. Today, we delve deeper into one of the most critical aspects: how hunger directly impacts the learning capacities of young children. Simply put: hunger makes it harder for children to learn. As the demonstrated community need […]

We Need to Hear from YOU!  At the Olean Food Pantry, we are committed to creating a hunger-free future. We’ve learned that the first step is to understand the problem in the local War on Hunger. Our $1 Million Fundraising Campaign is all about transforming our community AND taking on the root causes of hunger.   […]

Grant to Boost OFP’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign OLEAN, NY – A $7,500 grant to the Olean Food Pantry from the United Way of Cattaraugus County aims to tackle skyrocketing local food insecurity. Commemorating its 70th year serving the Olean area, OFP will use the funds as another stepping stone to its new $1 Million […]

By Kathleen DonovanOlean Food Pantry Board Vice President (Editor’s note: This is the last in a four-part series by the Olean Food Pantry for the Olean Times Herald about solving food insecurity in our communities. Read the original article here.) If you’ve had your eyes open, you’re likely well aware of Olean Food Pantry’s supercharged […]

By Fred WelchOlean Food Pantry Board Member (Editor’s note: This is the third in a four-part opinion-editorial series by the Olean Food Pantry for the Olean Times Herald and other local media outlets about solving food insecurity in our communities. Read the original article here.) I spent much of my career as a STEM teacher […]

By Rich EspositoOlean Food Pantry Board Member (Editor’s note: This is the second in a four-part opinion-editorial series by the Olean Food Pantry for the Olean Times Herald and other local media outlets. about solving food insecurity in our communities. Read the original article here.) I’m a numbers guy. The hunger numbers are staggering in […]

By David PotterBoard President, Olean Food Pantry (Editor’s note: This is the first in a four-part opinion-editorial series by the Olean Food Pantry for the Olean Times Herald and other local media outlets. about solving food insecurity in our communities. Read the original article here.) Last summer, our Board of Directors began some serious discussion […]

As Olean Food Pantry continues to serve record numbers of individuals and families, it’s important not to see them only as numbers – but also as people. They’re the faces of hunger and food insecurity in Western New York.  These good people paint a diverse and complex picture of struggle and unwavering determination. Behind closed […]

The traditional service model for local food pantries is just that: service. People come. People receive food. They go home. But there are so many other innovative ways local food pantries could help their communities beyond food distribution alone. We’ve been asking those questions and seeking those answers – and the critical funding to provide […]

Olean Food Pantry’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign is NOT ONLY about ensuring we keep food on our shelves for the next year or two. We aim for A DECADE OF STOCKED SHELVES, not for the sake of serving food distribution needs alone. Rather, the transformative impact of securing food and supplies in that timeframe is […]

Olean Food Pantry announced our $1 Million Fundraising Campaign with much excitement almost one full month ago. BIG figures aren’t thrown around too often in this area’s nonprofit community – at least not with volunteer-run organizations like ours.  Having seen a 95.4% increase in food pantry clients the last three years, we knew the time […]

OLEAN, NY (March 27, 2024) – Get ready to move your feet and make a difference. The Olean Food Pantry is partnering with Neighborhood School of Dance for the upcoming Movin’ Feet 4 the Food Pantry Dance-A-Thon – a fun-filled event to support the fight against local food insecurity. The Dance-A-Thon will be held from […]