A Holiday to Remember: Nearly 14,000 Pounds of Turkey Shared with Local Families
Olean Food Pantry is proud to announce the official tally for our 2025–26 Free Holiday Turkey Distribution, and it’s nothing short of extraordinary!
From Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 9, 2026, Olean Food Pantry distributed:
- 1,147 whole turkeys and breasts.
- 793 bags of holiday meal fixings.
- Nearly 14,000 pounds of turkey (average 12 pounds per bird).
The Holiday Giving Season is particularly meaningful for us here at Olean Food Pantry. For one, it’s a super busy time of year, as our friends and families of all faiths – or no faith affiliation at all – prepare to enjoy the festivities in their own beautiful ways.
But food insecurity doesn’t check out for the Holidays. It impacts people year-round– and especially during the Holidays when money, time and resources are tight.
Thousands of families and individuals received the gift of a delicious, filling Holiday meal. But beyond that, so many of our clients were gifted moments of togetherness, dignity and compassion, and relief during a difficult time.
Safe to say, from Thanksgiving beyond the New Year, Olean Food Pantry helped fill more than just plates. We also filled hearts. (That reality is gratifying beyond belief. It’s why we do what we do to build caring communities in the War on Hunger.)
Extending the Season of Giving: Thanks to Donations from Special Community Partners
For the first time, OFP was able to do something extra special: extend the Free Holiday Turkey Distribution beyond Thanksgiving. Thanks to the immense generosity of BJ’s and Walmart in Olean, NY, we gave out 468 whole turkeys between Dec. 1 and Jan. 9.
That’s a powerful reminder that the needs of our community don’t disappear after Thanksgiving. Food insecurity doesn’t operate on a calendar. While many children expect gifts of toys and mirth during the Holiday Season, so many more are just happy to go to bed without hunger pangs.
Tens of thousands of families in Western New York are impacted by rising grocery prices, uncertainty associated with SNAP and other benefits, and job insecurity. For these good people, the holidays tend to bring more pressure than joy. That’s why your support matters more than ever.
(Related reading: When Will Food Insecurity in Rural Western New York Be a Priority?)
Holiday Hunger Relief Powered by Compassion (& Volunteers)
None of this would have been possible without the hard work of our all-volunteer team, who carried thousands of pounds of food, packed hundreds of bags, and greeted each visitor with compassion and warmth.
We’re not just handing out free groceries. We’re helping families create memories around their tables. We’re honoring the dignity of our own neighbors and even family members who need a helping hand.
We’re building a community that believes in hope, even when times are hard.
Also, none of this would be possible without our donors, grant funders, community partners and other supporters who believe that no one in WNY should go hungry – especially during the Holidays.
Thank You for Making The Holiday Season Brighter
We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who donated, volunteered or helped spread the word. Your kindness ensured that hundreds of families across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties could celebrate the Holidays with full plates and full hearts.
We’re well on our way, carrying this giving spirit into the New Year. Because when we feed families together, we create something more powerful than a meal — we create a movement.
Make your tax-deductible donation today to keep the mission going all year long.
