Olean Food Pantry’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign – We’re Nearly Halfway There!

A year ago, Olean Food Pantry set out on an ambitious journey. We’re now more confident than ever its success will strengthen our fight against hunger in Western New York. With more than $400,000 raised in grants, cash donations and special events, we’re excited to announce WE’RE ALMOST HALFWAY TO OUR $1 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN GOAL!  

Entering last year, our Board of Directors and volunteers had spotted an alarming trend. The volume of pantry visitors, at that point, had increased 95.4% since 2020. By now, that increase has officially more than doubled. We continue to routinely see record-breaking distribution days.

We had to do something BOLD. We had to do something to build sustainability toward the future. Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties have long had poverty and hunger rates as high – or higher than – the rest of the state and nation. Yet, systemic solutions here in Western New York often sit low on priority lists of government officials and other decision-makers.

OFP’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign aimed at ensuring 10 years of stocked shelves while tackling the root causes of hunger. The overarching goal? Not to serve more, but to eventually lower the number of people experiencing food insecurity to begin with.

Let’s have a deeper look at how the fundraiser is going so far, and work toward eclipsing the halfway mark.

$1 Million Fundraising Campaign: The Numbers That Matter

Olean Food Pantry is redefining food security in Western New York and strengthening our fight against hunger for the next decade. With the guidance of Grand River Agency, our dedicated nonprofit consulting firm, we built this grassroots campaign from the ground up.

Now, one year in, we’re thrilled to share our progress and set sights at achieving $1 million raised! Thanks to the generosity of donors, businesses, foundations, and our incredible community, we have raised an impressive nearly $402,000 so far!

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Grants: $255,872
• Cash Donations (Individual & Corporate): $110,594
• Cattaraugus Gives 2024 (Community Giving Campaign): $35,450

The success to date is a testament to the unwavering commitment and the immense generosity of our grant funders, donors and other supporters. These great people believe in a future in which no one in our communities has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

Why This Fundraising Campaign Matters More Than Ever

But, of course, we have much work ahead of us. With community support, we can get over the $500,000 hump and tackle the second half of the $1 Million Fundraising Campaign.

We knew this wasn’t just about raising money — it’s about building a sustainable future. A future in which food insecurity doesn’t define our communities. The staggering increase in hunger calls for initiatives that directly provide food and supplies to people in need. It’s just as important, however, to invest in facilities, equipment and resources that support food distribution. 

One of our plans for the near future is to install solar panels on the Olean Food Pantry roof. It’s a great long-term solution. Projections indicate that solar panels would offset NEARLY $200,000 in utility costs that can be REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR MISSION over 25 years! Solar panels would also eliminate nearly 2 MILLION POUNDS of carbon emissions!

While we continue to feed thousands of people in need every month, we’re also investing in systemic solutions to break the vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and poor health. Achieving that vision requires financial stability. That’s why the OFP $1 Million Fundraising Campaign isn’t just about covering today’s needs – it’s about securing resources for the next 10 years so we can focus on partnerships, education and solutions that go beyond food distribution.

Philanthropy in Action: The Importance of Diversified Funding

One of the strengths of this campaign is our multi-channel fundraising strategy, ensuring a balanced and sustainable approach to reaching our $1 million goal. Sustainable change requires a broad coalition of support.

Here’s what’s next:

🔥 Major Gift Campaign – We are actively working with philanthropists and community leaders to secure major gifts that will bring us closer to our goal.

🔥 More Grant Applications – With over a quarter-million in grants already awarded, we are aggressively pursuing additional grant funding opportunities to maximize our impact.

🔥 Community & Business Engagement – We’re always open to building partnerships with local businesses, corporations and civic groups to increase corporate sponsorships and workplace giving programs.

🔥 Special Fundraising Events – We’re planning to leverage community events throughout the year to mobilize our friends and neighbors, spread awareness, and raise additional funds to battle food insecurity in Western New York.

We’re implementing new initiatives, donor outreach strategies and community engagement efforts to keep the momentum going.

$1 Million Fundraising Campaign: A Commitment to Fighting Hunger in WNY

We’re more determined than ever to reach our $1 Million Fundraising Campaign goal and build a future where food insecurity is no longer a daily struggle for so many Western New Yorkers. We’ve come so far in just one year — but we need your help to finish strong.

This is more than a fundraiser. It’s a grassroots movement in the fight against hunger. Here’s how you can help.

• Donate today and help us cross the halfway mark! Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to a hunger-free future. 
• Spread the word! Share our mission with your network and help us reach new supporters.
• Get involved! Whether through volunteering, corporate partnerships or advocacy, there are so many ways to be part of this journey.

Thank you for supporting the Olean Food Pantry. Thank you for being part of something bigger.