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 […]

The reality may be worse than we thought. Here at Olean Food Pantry, we’ve kept track of our client numbers for years. Directly witnessing a MORE THAN DOUBLING in pantry visitors since 2020 has painted a grim picture of hunger in our communities.  Hunger statistics are hard to pin down almost anywhere. Different government agencies […]

A common misperception: only the rich can help nonprofit causes like solving food insecurity. “What good will my $5 do?” many have said. “But if I were to give $20 per month, that’s only $240 a year.” But we’re here to say that even lower middle-class people can solve local food insecurity. In 2023 and […]

We’ve talked a lot about the realities of hunger in Western New York. We’ve discussed the many varied faces of hunger – because in our communities they’re not the stereotypical picture of poverty and homelessness. (Most importantly, they’re NOT the picture of laziness and entitlement that many would argue disqualifies them from hunger assistance.)  It’s […]

(Editor’s Note: The following is the last in a 5-part series on the Faces of Hunger in Western New York. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry compiled a media campaign highlighting the varied struggles with food insecurity in our communities. The following is a more detailed peek into the life of a job seeker experiencing food […]

(Editor’s Note: The following is the fourth in a 5-part series on the Faces of Hunger in Western New York. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry compiled a media campaign highlighting the varied struggles with food insecurity in our communities. The following is a more detailed peek into the life of an elder on a fixed […]

(Editor’s Note: The following is the third in a 5-part series on the Faces of Hunger in Western New York. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry compiled a media campaign highlighting the varied struggles with food insecurity in our communities. The following is a more detailed peek into the life of a person living with disabilities. […]

(Editor’s Note: The following is the second in a 5-part series on the Faces of Hunger in Western New York. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry compiled a media campaign highlighting the varied struggles with food insecurity in our communities. The following is a more detailed peek into the life of a person recovering from addiction. […]

(Editor’s Note: The following is the first in a 5-part series on the Faces of Hunger in Western New York. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry compiled a media campaign highlighting the varied struggles with food insecurity in our communities. The following is a more detailed peek into the life of resilient parents. While we would […]

Western New York is steeped in a proud agricultural tradition. Our region’s fertile soil, dedicated farmers and growing expertise have made Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties vital contributors to the region’s food supply. So we’re happy to promote an upcoming USDA grant opportunity for farmers. It’s a chance for our friends and neighbors who work […]

Western New York is a region rooted in rich, fertile soil and an even richer agricultural history. For this reason, we must honor that legacy by harnessing the ample natural resources in our backyards for the War on Hunger.  For generations, farms in our communities have not only fed our families, but also fueled our […]

Sustainability is a word thrown around a lot at local food pantries. In this context, you might envision the ability to maintain a steady flow of food for those in need. While our Board members and volunteers here do often discuss sustainability in that light, we prefer a broader definition of sustainability – one that […]

We’re always excited to usher in a new year here at Olean Food Pantry. To be sure, 2024 was a banner year for OFP as we received several large grants and community donations on levels never before seen. While reflecting on our progress, we’re also setting our sights on ambitious goals for 2025. In this […]

We’ve entered the Season of Giving. But for too many families, it’s the Season of Struggle. Each holiday season, the more fortunate among us find ourselves caught up in the festive buzz — decorating homes, preparing feasts and selecting thoughtful gifts for loved ones. But for thousands of families across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, […]

All of us here at Olean Food Pantry couldn’t be more thrilled. Our Cattaraugus Gives Day campaign on Dec. 3 raised $35,450 toward the local war on hunger! The extraordinary generosity of our community, donors and other supporters demonstrates the spirit of our region and its commitment to fighting the battles that matter. Cattaraugus Gives […]

(Editor’s note: The following is the last in a four-part series of op-eds by Olean Food Pantry board members in preparation for the Season of Giving. It appeared first in the Olean Times Herald and was featured in several other prominent local/regional news outlets.) By David PotterOlean Food Pantry Board President We have work to […]

(Editor’s note: The following is the third in a four-part series of op-eds by Olean Food Pantry board members in preparation for the Season of Giving. It first appeared in the Olean Times Herald and was featured in several other prominent local/regional news outlets.) By Jamie KohnOlean Food Pantry board member I’ve seen a lot […]

(Editor’s note: The following is the second in a four-part series of op-eds by Olean Food Pantry board members in preparation for the Season of Giving. This article first appeared in the Olean Times Herald and was featured in numerous other local and regional news outlets.) By Nick HamedOlean Food Pantry board member Charity isn’t […]

(Editor’s note: This is the first in a four-part series of op-eds by Olean Food Pantry board members in preparation for the Season of Giving. It first appeared in the Olean Times Herald and was featured in several other prominent local news outlets.) By Ashley GreeleyOlean Food Pantry board member As we approach the holiday […]

At the Olean Food Pantry our goal has always been clear: to provide free food and other household necessities to our communities with compassion, efficiency and respect. In order to continue meeting the needs of all our clients effectively – while ALSO supporting the hard work of our dedicated volunteers – we’re making a small […]