Free food distribution to people in need is easy in theory. It’s something we’ve done here at Olean Food Pantry for over 70 years. But the mission has evolved out of necessity through the decades to meet community needs.  Looking to the future of fighting food insecurity, local food pantries like ours must embrace advancements […]

Merely meeting the daily hunger needs in our impoverished communities isn’t enough. As frontline leaders in the War on Hunger, we’re invested in building a sustainable local food pantry to work toward a hunger-free future. At Olean Food Pantry, we’ve learned that true hunger relief is about tomorrow, too. It’s about asking: How do we […]

In a world of abundance, the global impact of food insecurity is a painful paradox. From rural Western New York to communities around the world, hunger continues to impact many millions — billions even. We see this not just in statistics, but in stories of struggle, survival and resilience. Here in the Olean, NY area, […]

Food insecurity is one of the most urgent — yet often overlooked — challenges facing Western New York. At Olean Food Pantry, we see the impact firsthand every day: the tired eyes of parents skipping meals for their kids, the quiet dignity of seniors trying to stretch a fixed income, and the exhausted workers who […]

The good people working local food pantries like ours often say “we’re in the business of food.” But the heart of service is rooted in something much deeper: empathy. In a world that moves fast and often forgets the people who are struggling just to keep up – especially here in impoverished Western New York […]

In a world where screens often replace handshakes and convenience trumps connection, local food pantries like ours remind us of something essential: we all belong to each other. Here at Olean Food Pantry, our commitment to Western New York is to fight hunger while building caring communities. (Related reading: 5 Ways Local Food Pantries Help […]

An Innovative Step Toward Fighting Hunger Sustainably Check out our proposed solar energy project! We’ve been talking a lot about sustainability lately. As a socially committed community organization, we have a responsibility for environmental consciousness.    Olean Food Pantry’s mission has always been clear: to ensure no neighbor goes hungry. But today, as hunger climbs to […]

The face of hunger in America is changing — and so must our response. The future of fighting food insecurity requires an analysis of current trends and challenges, as well as future opportunities. At Olean Food Pantry, we’ve seen this shift firsthand. In 2024, we served over 27,170 individuals across Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties […]

If you’ve ever been hungry, you know what it feels like: the irritability, the headaches, the fatigue. And worse. Many chronic poor health conditions directly stem from food insecurity and a less-than-optimal diet.  Health care providers at all levels have a great opportunity to fight food insecurity everywhere and improve health outcomes for their patients […]

In 2025, Olean Food Pantry served 27,170 people. If ever there’s a call for hunger relief action – using advocacy and communication to drive policy change – that’s it. That number is staggering — more than double the totals served annually since 2020. But it’s more than a statistic. It’s a reflection of the lives, […]

When you think of a food pantry, what comes to mind? A few shelves stocked with canned goods? A line of people stretching out the door waiting for help? A place where those less fortunate go to get what they need and leave quietly? At Olean Food Pantry, we know the truth runs far deeper […]

The Helping Hands Behind Every Client Served in Olean, NY Every month at Olean Food Pantry, something remarkable happens. While hunger and poverty continue to be some of Western New York’s most pressing issues, roughly 2,000 individuals and families receive free food and household supplies they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. How does this […]

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. […]