Olean Food Pantry Celebrating 70 Years of Fighting Hunger

Let’s pay homage to a journey that began 70 years ago to end hunger in our communities. Olean Food Pantry began in the humblest of ways in 1954, with a small women’s group determined to feed the hungry as best they could. 

They decided to make a difference, and they did! Little did these remarkable women know, they laid a foundation for an organization fighting hunger on a large scale in many different ways decades later. As the Olean Food Pantry celebrates our 70th anniversary, we invite our local food pantry supporters and patrons to recall a legacy of service, understand the hunger issue today, and work toward a future where no one goes to bed hungry.

A Historical Legacy of Fighting Hunger Locally

What started as a modest initiative has evolved into a cornerstone of compassion in the greater Olean, NY area. Olean Food Pantry has long addressed local food insecurity with unwavering dedication.

In the early days, a compassionate group of women from Bethany Lutheran Church recognized the need within their community and took the first steps toward addressing food insecurity. They initiated the Bethany Food Pantry in 1954, providing nourishment to individuals and families referred by Social Services. 

Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, this grassroots effort operated on an on-call basis. Volunteers extended a helping hand when the need arose. 

Increasing Hunger: Creating Permanent Solutions

As need increased, it became obvious the Olean community required a more permanent solution to provide food for people in need. The turning point came in 1989 when Bethany Food Pantry underwent a transformative reorganization. Under the Greater Olean Association of Churches (GOAC), an ecumenical board was established and the first OFP director appointed. 

This marked a significant milestone as, for the first time, volunteers could keep the pantry open during regular hours. As the community’s needs burgeoned, so did the pantry, relocating multiple times to various places including Central Baptist Church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and 1010 Wayne Street in the Empire Zone.

Olean Food Pantry Earns Nonprofit Status

In August 2004, the Olean Food Pantry took another monumental step, officially becoming a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, independent of GOAC. The organization became known as Olean Food Pantry, Inc. This transition gave our organization a permanent home, 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean. The new building was dedicated Sept. 15, 2007.

Notably (and appropriately), the Olean Food Pantry is situated behind Bethany Lutheran Church. The battle against local food insecurity had come full circle. As a nonprofit, the Olean Food Pantry was given the organizational capacity to raise funds, nurture relationships and build new programs fighting hunger. 

The community’s generosity has always been inspiring. Thousands of community members have contributed to fighting hunger. Meanwhile, dwindling economic opportunities and generational poverty have contributed to thousands more living in hunger – verifiably more than ever before. 

Navigating the Current Landscape of Fighting Hunger

Today, as Olean Food Pantry celebrates 70 years of service, it’s essential to recognize the evolving face of hunger and food insecurity within our community. We believed the Covid-19 pandemic would offer the worst hunger realities this local food pantry could ever experience. So many in our communities lost their jobs, and their families struggled almost immediately and every day thereafter for years.

But with the pandemic mostly behind us, local food insecurity continues to INCREASE! Community need has ALMOST DOUBLED, expressed by a 95.4% increase in pantry visitors the last 3 years. A once-proud region dominated by factory towns, the Western New York counties we serve have a combined poverty rate of 17.4%. With inflation, even those who seem to live “comfortably” above the “poverty rate” can also struggle with hunger. 

We served 39,111 people between January 2022 and September 2023.

Record-Breaking Hunger Numbers in Western New York

Recent events have underscored the critical role the Olean Food Pantry plays. Just a few weeks ago, we served an unprecedented 155 families in a single day. In recent years, our volunteers have grown accustomed to seeing so many cars and people waiting to come inside. But the sheer volume of people and families that frigid day in late January was  

We would celebrate serving so many people, but no. The numbers paint a grim picture of community hunger like we’ve never seen before. 

Despite our progress, the pressing needs remain and new challenges emerge daily.

Frontline Heroes: Honoring Volunteers & Board Members

Volunteers are the true heartbeat of our local food pantry mission. They dedicate their time, energy and compassion to make a difference. Whether sorting, stocking shelves or distributing food, or educating on healthy food choices, their commitment not only provides sustenance, but also nurtures empathy and a sense of community.

Board members, with their strategic vision and leadership, have guided the pantry through decades of change. The Olean Food Pantry Board builds capacity to ensure our facility is operational, well-stocked and organized to serve thousands of people each month.

Celebrating Impact & Looking Ahead

As we honor the past, celebrate the present and look to the future, the Olean Food Pantry remains committed to addressing the challenges of fighting hunger. Local food insecurity is a complex issue with deep-rooted causes. Economic downturns, job losses, and unexpected crises have pushed many families to the brink, making our mission fighting hunger more crucial than ever.

How You Can Make a Difference

As we embark on the next chapter of our mission, we invite you to join us in the fight against hunger. Your support – whether through donations, volunteering or spreading awareness – greatly impacts the lives of those struggling with food insecurity.

Let’s celebrate 70 years of compassion and resilience at the Olean Food Pantry while renewing our commitment to creating a community where no one goes to bed hungry.

We appreciate your tax-deductible donation today!