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Think of what you might call “the picture of food insecurity.” What do you envision? Perhaps it’s a crowded soup kitchen in some big, far-off city. Or maybe it’s one of those TV commercials soliciting donations for a famine-stricken third-world nation half a world away.

Make no mistake, those are certainly worthwhile causes to support. But the war on hunger in our own backyards should stir many of the same emotions. With nearly 30,000 people served at Olean Food Pantry annually, we’re forced to confront the reality that supporting food security nonprofits in rural America is just as important.

(Related reading: Rural Food Pantries Need More Than Food: The Hidden Costs of Fighting Hunger.

After all, all those good folks in need who line our parking lot each distribution day are our friends, neighbors and even family.

Hunger Hides in the Hills of Rural Western New York

Hunger doesn’t stop at the city limits.

In rural places like Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties — where easy access to transportation, healthcare and even grocery stores is limited for tens of thousands of residents — food insecurity can be even more severe. 

And quieter. And harder to see.

At Olean Food Pantry, we’ve spent over 70 years addressing this hidden crisis. And today, we need you more than ever. Food insecurity in our communities often hides behind closed doors. It looks like:

• A single mom skipping dinner to feed her kids
• A senior choosing between prescriptions & groceries
• A neighbor who works full-time but still can’t afford a cart of healthy food
• A veteran without transportation to the nearest grocery store — more than 15 miles away

(We took time to profile many of the typical demographics we see weekly at Olean Food Pantry in our Faces of Hunger series.) 

Hunger in rural America doesn’t often make headlines. It doesn’t flood TikTok or Instagram. But it’s real. It’s growing.

In our region — at the northern edge of the Appalachian corridor — the latest official statistic is that 13.6% of our citizens experience food insecurity. Our calculations are much higher – up to 1 in 4 – factoring those on the cusp of poverty and others who struggle keeping jobs in a tough economy.

That number continues to climb due to rising grocery prices, SNAP eligibility changes and our dramatically shrinking rural economies.

Why Rural Food Pantries Like Ours Deserve Support

There’s a troubling truth we’ve learned over time: rural hunger relief organizations receive far less attention and funding than their urban counterparts.

Here’s an eye-popping statistic: only about 7% of philanthropic dollars go to rural nonprofits, despite rural America representing nearly 20% of the population. If ever there were a reason to support food security nonprofits in underserved areas like ours, that’s it! Unfortunately, many grantmakers simply overlook regions like ours because they lack flashy data, dramatic imagery or recognizable zip codes.

But here’s what we do have:

• Proven Reach: We served over 27,000 individuals in 2024 across a tri-county area.
• Efficient Operations: Olean Food Pantry is 100% volunteer-run. Every dollar goes directly to food, infrastructure and community outreach.
• Community Partnerships: We work hand-in-hand with farmers, grocers, civic groups and schools.
• Smart Spending: Through our partnership with FeedMore WNY, we purchase food at wholesale nonprofit rates, meaning even small cash donations can feed multiple families.

We make every dollar count. We stretch every gift to its fullest potential. We meet families where they are.

Supporting Local Food Equity in Underserved Areas

Ending hunger is a matter of social justice. It isn’t just charity. Every one of us — no matter where we live — deserves a full plate. 

We’ve proven we can build sustainable food equity systems in underserved rural communities, and that we can replicate that success across the country.

Join us. Support us. Donate to hunger relief in Western New York. Stand with rural families who deserve better. Because here, every meal is a lifeline. Every gift is a vote for dignity. Make your tax-deductible donation to Olean Food Pantry today!

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.

Let’s borrow an old adage: “It takes a village.” Many of us have heard this phrase our entire lives to describe everything from raising children to making a community impact. When it comes to hunger relief in Western New York, this “it takes a village” mindset has long guided Olean Food Pantry’s work in our small corner of the world.

Because to us, ours is not a small corner of the world. It IS our world. Olean Food Pantry serves a vast catchment area comprising three rural counties in northern Appalachia, the poorest region of the U.S. 

So from our perspective, the War on Hunger in our counties doesn’t just take one village – it takes dozens of villages with many organizations working together to not only provide free food and household supplies to people with demonstrated need, but also to work toward systemic solutions. 

Entire communities of partners working together — from regional farms and grocers to civic groups and school systems — all united in the belief that no one in WNY should go hungry.

These alliances don’t simply support our mission. They multiply our impact, helping us reach deeper into underserved areas and create more sustainable, long-term hunger relief across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. We’re proud to be a nonprofit leveraging partnerships to feed families not just with compassion, but with strategy. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss some examples of strategic partnerships that can help local food pantries everywhere. (They’re certainly helping ours.)

Farms & Food Producers: Fresh Food, Local Solutions

Some of our most vital relationships are with local farmers and food producers. Whether it’s a family farm donating surplus produce or a dairy distributor partnering on bulk pricing, these relationships mean better food for our clients — and less food waste in our region. 

You can’t talk about hunger relief without talking about nutrition. Processed shelf-stable foods serve a purpose, but it’s fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and proteins that build strong bodies and minds. (Of course, strong bodies and minds mean children ready to learn and adults better prepared for the workforce.) 

It’s a win-win.

When clients walk through our doors and see fresh apples, heads of lettuce,  and cartons of eggs, it tells them something deeper: “You deserve the best.” Hunger relief in Western New York provides that reassuring and caring hand.

Grocers & Food Distributors: Fighting Hunger at the Source

Many grocery chains and small grocers also have stepped up by donating unsold inventory, hosting food drives or connecting us with wholesalers for preferred nonprofit pricing. As a nonprofit leveraging partnerships to feed families, these relationships have proven valuable for decades.

Our biggest regional partner is FeedMore WNY of Buffalo, NY. We rely on FeedMore to provide the bulk of our food supplies – and even smaller sources of grant funding specific to WNY food service organizations. What’s more, this strategic partnership facilitates our monthly Mobile Food Pantry and offers resources for nutrition education.

We also partner with local grocers including:

• Tops
• Aldi
• Olean Food Barn
• Walmart
• Jim’s Park & Shop

These collaborations ensure we have a steady flow of cereal, pasta, tomato sauce, canned fruit and vegetables, and soups — the very items people in need would buy themselves if money weren’t so tight.

Access is one thing. But these community partnerships help reduce food insecurity proactively by building and nurturing systems where our region’s excess supports our neighbors’ needs.

Civic & Faith-Based Organizations: From Compassion to Action

No one rallies like Western New York for a neighbor in need. (Much like the popular saying, “No one circles the wagons like our Buffalo Bills!) Local schools, churches, municipalities and civic groups play a big role in driving community donations and volunteer hours during our busiest seasons.

Some have organized community-wide food drives, while others have mobilized their networks to donate funds. Still others have chosen to roll up their sleeves and provide volunteer support in whatever ways necessary. 

During the recent federal shutdown and SNAP crisis, the community at large helped us keep up with skyrocketing demand — a 79% increase in weekly families served in just a few short weeks. They were, quite literally, the hands and feet of our mission during that food crisis.

Healthcare & Human Services: Nourishing the Whole Person

You’ve likely often heard another old adage: “Food is medicine.” Without widespread (easy and affordable) access to healthy foods, community health systems bear a significant strain.   Malnutrition and poor nutrition in general leads to worsened chronic conditions, higher hospital admissions and lower quality of life — especially among seniors and people with disabilities.

Food service organizations everywhere are working to develop both formal and informal partnerships with healthcare providers, mental health agencies and social workers to connect families with wraparound support. We welcome relationships with case managers. We also have referred food pantry clients to counseling and housing resources. 

At a base level, food access must always be part of a broader healing plan.

Food pantries don’t just fill bellies. We stabilize lives for people in need – the true faces of hunger –  from all walks of life. We’re proud to do that work collaboratively.

Why Philanthropy Matters: Fueling the Expansion of Partnership

Every one of these partnerships has been catalyzed by generous donors, grants, and foundations that believe in hunger relief in Western New York.

But there’s so much more work to do. We’re looking to scale our impact by: 

• Expanding mobile outreach
• Offering nutrition education
• Exploring coordinated care models for further partnership

We even have an ambitious plan to invest in a solar energy system to reinvest utility savings into more food.

To do this, the world of philanthropy must come to the table (pun intended)to fill rural hunger gaps where government agencies consistently fall short. A successful local food pantry does more than just keep shelves stocked. It builds capacity, strengthens relationships and creates a regional safety net no one organization could ever build alone.

Help Us Feed Families Together: Hunger Relief in Western New York

As a nonprofit leveraging partnerships to feed families, Olean Food Pantry is proof that partnership is power.

Whether you’re a donor, business owner, school administrator or community leader — know this: your partnership matters. Your support can (and will) help us reach more families, provide better food and build a system in which no one has to choose between hunger and health.

We appreciate your tax-deductible donation today!

Olean Food Pantry has many things to be proud of. Our volunteer-run hunger relief program has been successfully serving individuals and families in need for over 70 years. Our model – our decades-long commitment to addressing food insecurity in our communities – is both efficient and effective for serving tens of thousands of people annually. 

But there’s also humility in this call to serve. While OFP sets the standard for free food distribution in Western New York, the harsh realities and struggles facing so many people are the true focus.

That’s the story. That’s the narrative that keeps our volunteer hunger heroes returning each week to help more friends and neighbors.

Because at the end of the day – with funding and other philanthropic properties beyond our control – we can depend only on the help of the people around us. (We’re all in this together!)  

Volunteer-Run Hunger Relief Provides Dignity & Compassion

We’ve often pointed to the dignity we offer clients through our Shopper’s Choice model, the relationships we’ve built with farmers and other nonprofit partners across the region, and the free groceries and household supplies we distribute twice weekly to individuals and families across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

But if there’s one thing we’re most proud of — and most challenged by — it’s this: we’re a food pantry led entirely by volunteers.

Not a single paid staff member. No salaries. No payroll budget. Just neighbors helping neighbors because the mission matters. In an era of rapidly increasing hunger numbers, volunteer-run hunger relief stretches every donated dollar to its maximum impact. 

But it also stretches our people. 

We must work that much harder to make our “hunger-relief machine” run effectively. Our pursuits of grant funding and community donations must compete that much harder against big-city programs that often receive support just for existing. 

Here’s how we get it right.

The Immense Power of All-Volunteer Operations at a Local Food Pantry

Running a food pantry that serves nearly 30,000 individuals annually is no small feat. And we do it without the administrative and staffing costs that often eat up nonprofit budgets elsewhere.

That means:

• More food in the hands of families in need.
• Higher grant impact potential (every funder knows their support is going directly to service delivery).
• Minimal overhead. 
• Maximum efficiency.

It’s why our most loyal donors trust us – some of them choosing to give generously year after year. It’s why civic groups and grantmakers continue to step forward. It’s how we can devote our time and efforts to resolving community issues that cause food insecurity — not just managing it.

But fundraising is an everyday battle. Even OFP’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign – now over halfway to our goal – will offer a finite amount of impact in the grand scheme of serving three rural counties at the northern tip of impoverished Appalachia. 

So we rely on sweat equity. Volunteer-run hunger relief asks a lot of community members, many of whom have nothing more to give than their time. Retirees, local professionals, students, churches, business owners and even former clients now give back. 

We have volunteers who stock shelves with arthritis in their hands, who shovel snow so elders can reach the pantry, who learn client-tracking software or haul thousands of pounds of canned goods — all because they care.

This is community-led hunger relief. And it works.

Volunteer-Run Hunger Relief Doesn’t Mean Easy

While our model allows for deep impact, it comes with a heavy load — especially as demand grows.

In just two weeks last fall, we saw a 79% spike in families visiting the pantry. The cause? Federal government shutdowns and SNAP benefit disruptions left many people with nowhere else to turn.

We answered the call as we always do – with great community support. But with no paid staff and a vast rural region to serve, that’s not always so easily sustainable.

Our volunteers do extraordinary work, but they’re also human. They get sick. They burn out. They move away. In our region, 1 in 4 residents faces food insecurity. As OFP Board member Jamie Kohn lamented in a recent op-ed to the local media, “Hunger in our community is the worst I’ve ever seen.” 

That said, we simply can’t afford gaps in our community food-distribution services.

That’s why investing in our long-term organizational viability is so crucial — through partnerships, grants, infrastructure projects, and energy efficiency upgrades like our proposed solar panel installation.

Supporting Local Food Equity in Underserved Areas

Western New York is easily one of the most beautiful regions in the U.S., but it’s also overburdened. Our Appalachian hills are home to shrinking towns, aging infrastructure and many who fall through the cracks.

Far too many go to bed on an empty stomach, and we’ve often asked ourselves, “How can we get people to care more about the immense struggle in our communities?” 

(Related reading: When Will Food Insecurity in Rural Western New York Be a Priority?)

We throw around the term “food equity” a lot. In this region, food equity doesn’t just mean handing out canned goods. It means reaching people who live up to 15 miles from the nearest grocery store via unpaved backroads. It means welcoming families from diverse backgrounds and helping them choose culturally familiar, healthy foods. It means bringing nutrition directly to schools, seniors and isolated communities through partnerships and mobile outreach.

Volunteer-run hunger relief is the heartbeat of all this work. But we need you to keep that heart beating. Your support builds the scaffolding for long-term food equity in Western New York.

Why We Keep Showing Up: Food Access is a Human Right

No one should go hungry because they live off the beaten path, because they lost their job, or because they’re caught in the cracks of a broken system. Hunger relief rooted in dignity, compassion and community is the strongest tool we have.

Our all-volunteer team isn’t just stretching every dollar. We’re fighting every day to ensure every dollar counts — now and for the future. Want to make a difference? Make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or help us share this message.

Because when neighbors care for neighbors, no one goes hungry.

We work a lot with numbers. From our Board of Directors down to our volunteer hunger heroes, everyone here at Olean Food Pantry works in ways that are measured and quantified. There’s a purpose to the numbers madness. As a local food pantry with measurable community impact, we must know what exactly we’re doing, how and why.

Those questions are answered only with data.

We believe that doing well in the local War on Hunger isn’t good enough. To truly move the needle on food insecurity in Western New York, we must measure the good we do. It’s vital to track outcomes as carefully as we count cans and boxes of cereal. It’s how we stay accountable. It’s how we earn trust from donors and foundations. 

Most importantly, it’s how we ensure we’re meeting the real and evolving needs of our neighbors.

Feeding Working Families & Understanding Their Struggles

Service requires understanding. While it may be easy enough to comprehend food insecurity at the surface level, the struggles of individual people and families are distinct and varied. Sure, we know that roughly 1 in 4 families here struggles with hunger. Knowing that figure is great. It helps us prepare, to fundraise, to order enough food and supplies to accommodate the dozens – or hundreds – of people who visit Olean Food Pantry each week. 

But what exactly do they need? How do they need to be served? What community resources could we mobilize or connect them to that would help lift them out of poverty?

Our community needs here in rural WNY are different than even rural West Virginia – and vastly different from urban Miami. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. As a local food pantry serving working families in WNY, we see these realities every distribution day:

• Households where parents juggle jobs and still can’t cover basic needs.
• People in addiction recovery who struggle holding steady jobs and affording groceries.
• Seniors on fixed incomes trying to stretch dwindling retirement savings.
• Working professionals fresh off an unexpected layoff.
• & Many more.

(Related reading: The Faces of Hunger in Western New York.)

Many people still think of food pantries as places where only the unemployed or homeless seek help. Some may go so far as to call them “lazy.” Here at Olean Food Pantry, we know a much different reality. 

These are our neighbors: the factory worker laid off unexpectedly, the nursing aide whose rent just went up, the single dad trying to make ends meet on two part-time jobs without benefits. 

Data-Driven & People-Focused: Local Food Pantry Serving Working Families in WNY

Nearly half of all residents live either in poverty or on the edge of it in our service area spanning Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties — larger than the state of Rhode Island. So many of them are doing everything “right” and still falling short. 

We serve them not only with food, but with dignity and compassion.

While the numbers speak volumes, the narrative of real community impact comes from human stories. Like the ones mentioned above, we’ve also encountered stories like the senior couple who tearfully thanked our volunteers because they no longer had to choose between food and medicine. Or the working mom who told us she finally “felt seen” because we offered fresh fruits her kids actually liked.

Our Shopper’s Choice model, in which clients choose the foods that best fit their families’ preferences and dietary needs, adds another layer of dignity. It also allows us to track what foods are most needed, ensuring we’re not just giving out free food, but the right food.

Why Measurable Impact Matters to Grant Funders & Food Pantry Donors

In today’s philanthropic landscape, grant funders and donors want more than good intentions. They want to know their dollars are making a tangible difference. They won’t even consider funding an organization without the capacity to measure community impact. 

That’s why OFP invests in client tracking systems and transparent reporting, so every grantmaker, sponsor and local supporter can see their role in building a stronger, more food-secure Western New York.

A local food pantry with measurable community impact is pleased to report the efficiency of donor dollars used. Thanks to wholesale pricing through FeedMore WNY and other nonprofit partnerships, we’re able to purchase approximately twice as much food with every donated dollar compared to retail costs. That’s such a strong return on investment for every funder and supporter.

Whether we’re writing grant proposals, launching campaigns like Cattaraugus Gives Day, or simply updating our community, we report our compassion with verifiable data.

Join Us in Making a Measurable Impact on Food Insecurity in WNY

Olean Food Pantry is proud to have had such a positive community impact for so many years. We invite you to be part of that impact. Whether you donate, volunteer or spread the word, you’re helping us feed working families, track success and continuously improve.

Hunger doesn’t take a break. Neither do we.

Olean Food Pantry has been in existence for more than 70 years. The mission has always been the same: to provide food assistance in Western New York. People in need wondering where to get groceries for free here in the Olean, NY area haven’t had to look too far since many of our own grandparents and even great-grandparents volunteered to run this nonprofit rural food pantry decades ago. 

The Western New York of yesteryear was a land of economic opportunity, bolstered by a great oil and manufacturing boom. Today we face an era of inflation and rising grocery prices, growing economic inequality, and ever-dwindling job opportunities. For more than 27,000 people who visit OFP each year – from all walks of life – it’s seemingly impossible to make ends meet anymore. 

Access to healthy groceries should never be a privilege. If we can provide them for free to eligible families – which we do – all the better!

(Related reading: What You Didn’t Know About Hunger in Western New York.)

We believe access to nutritious food is a fundamental human right. That goes not just for those in crisis, but for any individual or family working hard to make ends meet. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to meet families in need where they are by offering free, healthy groceries to people across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

Food Assistance in WNY: Free Healthy Groceries in Olean, NY

At our pantry on Leo Moss Drive in Olean, NY, we provide free groceries to nearly 30,000 people each year. The need is still growing. If you or someone you know is seeking food assistance in WNY, we offer:

• Dairy, protein & canned goods
• Fresh produce sourced locally
• Pantry staples like rice, pasta, beans & cereal
• Personal care & hygiene products
• Baby supplies

We ask only that visitors self-report financial need and household size so we can serve effectively and meet reporting requirements.

We’ve learned a lot through the years. One of the key lessons is that there will ALWAYS be people who need food assistance. It’s true in both good times and bad – whether the economic climate is confident or in recession.

Why?

Because food insecurity isn’t tied to financial strife alone. While the leading cause of hunger in America is indeed low income, numerous other factors contribute including mental health, unexpected layoffs, justice involvement and more.

Fresh Produce Partnerships & Nutrition Support

One of the things that sets Olean Food Pantry apart is our commitment to health and wellness — not just hunger relief. This helps families build meals that nourish the body and the mind.

We work with regional farms, food distributors and local grocers to source fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. We also host an on-site Community Garden, which provides more than a ton of produce each year for the pantry while also empowering clients to grow their own. 

We further offer nutrition guidance and support, including:

• Easy, affordable recipe ideas.
• Information on how to store & prepare unfamiliar foods.
• Tips for feeding children healthy meals on a tight budget.
• & More.

Sometimes, the biggest barrier to healthy eating isn’t just lacking access. It’s confidence, so we proudly offer tools to help families thrive.

Empowering Families with Dignity: The Shopper’s Choice Model

Our Shopper’s Choice food distribution model is designed to restore dignity and control to those navigating food insecurity. Instead of receiving a pre-packed box of items that may or may not suit their needs, our clients are invited to shop as they would at a grocery store. 

Clients can choose the items that best suit their families’ dietary, cultural and personal preferences. Choice matters, whether it’s a parent brainstorming well-balanced meals for their children or a senior citizen on a medically restricted diet.

This empowers people, encourages healthy decisions and allows for autonomy in a world where financial stress often strips that away.

And yes, once again, it’s all completely free!

Mobile Outreach Across Rural Western New York

Food insecurity looks different in rural communities like ours. Distance, limited transportation and relative social isolation can hinder access to healthy food — especially for seniors, people with disabilities and those without a vehicle.

To meet this challenge head-on, we’ve partnered with FeedMore WNY to provide the Mobile Food Pantry on the last Thursday each month.

Where to Get Healthy Groceries for Free: How You Can Help

Our ability to meet people where they are depends on a deeply committed volunteer team and the generosity of supporters. If you believe everyone deserves healthy groceries — not just processed scraps or shelf-stable leftovers — here’s how you can make a difference:

• Donate: Monetary donations stretch further than food donations, allowing us to purchase exactly what’s needed at wholesale rates. Give at oleanfoodpantry.org/donate.
• Volunteer: We are an all-volunteer-run organization. Every hour you give helps feed someone in need.
• Spread the Word: Let your neighbors know we’re here. The power of community advocacy is immense. No one should suffer in silence.

At Olean Food Pantry, you can get healthy groceries for free in Olean, NY. If you’re seeking food assistance in WNY, OFP is here for you. With compassion, dignity and a commitment to wellness, we’ll meet you where you are — and walk with you toward a healthier future.

Donate to Hunger Relief in Western New York

Sometimes here at Olean Food Pantry, we struggle to earn much-needed grant funding. We’re a nonprofit fighting hunger in rural New York, a mission most anyone could easily stand behind. But rural areas in general receive only about 7% of philanthropic spending.

That’s not to say we don’t ever win grants and other vital funding. We certainly do, but we must work that much harder to appeal to funders amongst hundreds – and even thousands – of other applications from big-city hunger programs. 

In the world of philanthropy, the spotlight often shines brightest on urban centers. Major donors, foundations and corporate funders tend to invest where the headlines are — cities with large populations and easily visible crises. (Think about it: what imagery tends to accompany any news story about food insecurity? That’s right. Homeless people and soup kitchens often just down the street from major metropolitan financial institutions. The stark contrast between the “haves” and “have nots” makes for a dramatic visual backdrop on TVs and smartphones. But it’s not the ultimate tale of community impact.) 

Here in rural Western New York, the hunger is just as real. And the impact of every dollar donated is often greater. It just looks different. Visitors to Olean Food Pantry look more like people lining up for church than a shock-value illustration of severe poverty.

If you’re looking for the best rural food pantries to fund in NY, here’s why Olean Food Pantry deserves your support — and why the future of hunger relief must include more intentional investment in rural communities like ours.

The Quiet, But Urgent Rural Hunger Crisis: Best Rural Food Pantries to Fund in NY

We mentioned the visible and dramatic imagery of major metropolitan hunger — lines around the block, food trucks distributing meals, school lunch programs serving thousands, etc. 

In rural communities, hunger hides in plain sight. 

It’s the working parent juggling two jobs, but still coming up short at the end of the month. It’s the elderly retiree skipping meals so they can afford medication. It’s the teenager going to bed with an empty stomach because the fridge at home is bare.

At Olean Food Pantry, we serve over 27,000 individuals and families each year across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. That number has more than doubled since 2020 — a direct result of rising grocery prices, economic instability and uncertainty surrounding government programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Today we’re seeing a new kind of crisis: even with a resolution to the recent federal government shutdown, proposed SNAP eligibility changes may yet cut off food assistance to more than 200,000 New Yorkers. In chronically underresourced areas like ours – with limited public transportation, sparse grocery stores and burdensome access to social services – this will hit harder than most other places.

Stretching Every Dollar Because We Have To: Nonprofit Fighting Hunger in Rural NY

Unlike larger urban nonprofits with full-time staff and complex overhead, Olean Food Pantry is 100% volunteer-run. Every item packed, every shelf stocked, every family served happens thanks to the grace of people who live here, give here and care deeply about their neighbors.

And because we purchase food at wholesale and nonprofit rates through partners like FeedMore WNY, your cash donation goes twice as far. A $50 cash gift doesn’t buy just a few items — it fills entire grocery carts.

We also embrace a Shopper’s Choice food distribution model, in which clients can select the foods they want and need, preserving dignity and supporting healthy decisions. We’ve partnered with local farmers and grocers to ensure fresh produce is always on hand. And we’re aiming to pioneer a solar energy project to reduce long-term utility costs and reinvest savings into direct food service for our communities.

This is smart, efficient, community-powered hunger relief. It deserves to be funded at the same level as our big-city counterparts.

Rural Doesn’t Mean Lesser — It Means Overlooked

Unfortunately, philanthropy has a rural blind spot. Grantmakers too often assume rural automatically means small impact. 

Philanthropic priorities change with the times. In our latest round of funder research, we discovered that most foundations and charitable trusts today are emphasizing big city nonprofits with missions almost exclusively impacting minority communities including black, Hispanic and LGBTQ+. While Olean Food Pantry does serve a significant segment of Native American communities, the reality is we are as far from “big city” as they come and our demographics are predominantly white. 

That doesn’t scream, “Not worthy of funding.” It simply indicates we don’t align with such specific funding priorities at this time.  

But if you’re looking to donate to hunger relief in Western New York, rural food pantries like ours are filling massive service gaps. In addition to providing food and other household supplies, we act as emergency food distributors, social service navigators, wellness advocates and economic first responders simultaneously. 

In areas with few other resources, a rural food pantry is often one of the few available safety nets – if not the only safety net. If you want to donate to hunger relief in Western New York, know this: a dollar here feeds a neighbor, not a bureaucracy. A gift here sustains not just a pantry, but a community.

(Related reading: When Will Food Insecurity in Rural Western New York Be a Priority?)

OFP urges foundations, major donors and those with the power to invest boldly in nonprofit work to look beyond the skyline — to see the families, children and seniors who are quietly struggling just outside the public eye.

Nonprofits Fighting Hunger in Rural New York: Join Us in Fighting Food Insecurity Where It’s Often Ignored

As one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits fighting hunger in rural New York, Olean Food Pantry is proof that rural impact in the war on food insecurity is real — and measurable.

We invite you to be part of this redemption story off the beaten path. To help us ensure that backwoods towns like ours won’t be forgotten. To put your philanthropy where it can stretch, serve and sustain.

Because here in impoverished Western New York, it’s never just a meal. It’s fuel for a job interview. It’s energy for a child at school. It’s hope for a better tomorrow. And it all starts with you. 

Donate today: oleanfoodpantry.org/donate.

In recent years, local rural food pantries like Olean Food Pantry have become more than just places where families in need pick up free groceries. We’ve become essential community lifelines, stepping up where federal and state systems fall short, especially in rural America.

Let’s be honest, dire needs are often overlooked in Western New York. Generational poverty and hunger run rampant here at the northern tip of Appalachia. Yet cuts in food aid and other vital resources for the most vulnerable among us continue to haunt our region.

Philanthropy must fill the void where powerful decision-makers fall short. This shift isn’t by choice. It’s by necessity. 

In this blog, we’ll address grant funding needs for rural food pantries and other ways to support food security nonprofits.

Grant Funding Needs for Rural Food Pantries: Government Aid Shrinks While Need Grows

Back in April, Olean Food Pantry announced the devastating reality of Trump administration cuts to food aid. After some calculation, it turned out to be a net 8.5% cut directly impacting OFP and our clients. 

Some might think, “Less than 10%, that’s not too bad.” They’d be wrong. In 2024, Olean Food Pantry served over 27,000 individuals and families — representing record numbers experiencing deepening economic strain in Western New York. While food demand has more than doubled since 2020, federal support for emergency food programs has dramatically declined.

Food distributions through TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and other USDA programs are down. Meanwhile, SNAP benefits have been cut for millions of working families, seniors and single parents across the U.S.

Rural communities like ours feel these cuts more acutely. Why? Because we already struggle with:

• High rates of generational poverty.
• Limited public transportation.
• Fewer healthcare providers.
• Food deserts where grocery access is sparse or non-existent.
  

But the need doesn’t disappear just because government funding does. Nonprofits like ours are doing everything in their power to leverage partnerships to feed families. We still desperately need grant funding and philanthropic support, not only for direct food distribution, but also for sustainability and infrastructure.

(Our proposed solar panel project is a shining example of thinking outside the box, promising roughly $200,000 in utility savings that will be reinvested into free food service.) 

Local Food Pantries Are Filling the Void in the War on Hunger

At Olean Food Pantry, we’re keeping families fed amidst an unthinkable increase in hunger in recent years. We distribute thousands of pounds of free groceries each week. We provide fresh produce, baby formula, hygiene products and even pet food. 

We’ve stepped in to fill the void. 

We’ve invested in infrastructure, launched sustainability efforts, and built strategic partnerships with farms, schools, grocers, churches and civic groups to stretch every dollar.

We do all of this with a 100% volunteer-run workforce. But love, compassion and elbow grease can only go so far. Without consistent financial support, even the best-run rural food pantry can’t continue indefinitely.

Philanthropy is Essential: How to Support Food Security Nonprofits

This is where private donors, foundations and grantmakers come in.

As government programs contract, philanthropy must expand — not just as charity, but also as strategic investments in rural resilience. Grant funding needs for rural food pantries are vast and varied. Supporting rural hunger relief through philanthropy:

• Fills the gaps that public funding leaves behind.
• Provides flexible capital for infrastructure, refrigeration and utilities.
• Enables pantries to meet rising demand without compromising quality.
• Supports innovation, like digital inventory systems and sustainable energy solutions.
• Allows nonprofits to build capacity and plan long-term.
  

Unlike government aid, grants and donor gifts can be targeted to meet community-specific needs. That’s critical in impoverished rural areas like ours, where one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work.

A High-Impact Nonprofit Grant & Donation Model Worth Supporting

Olean Food Pantry’s vision goes beyond simply handing out free groceries. We’re a nonprofit leveraging partnerships to feed families, strengthen community bonds and restore dignity in people’s darkest hours. 

We’re building a model of hunger relief that’s:

• Efficient — thanks to our all-volunteer team.
• Sustainable — with technology and smart systems on the horizon.
• Equitable — through our Shopper’s Choice model and culturally relevant offerings.
• Rooted in community — informed and driven by local needs.
  

(We wish there were a clever acronym for that, but alas, there is not.)

Supporting food security nonprofits doesn’t require a blank check. We need strategic support from those who believe that solving local food insecurity can also reduce poverty, improve health outcomes and uplift entire regions.

Rural Hunger Relief Is Worth the Investment: How You Can Help

If you’re a foundation representative, grantmaker, major donor or community donor, here’s how you can support rural food security efforts like ours:

• Fund General Operating Costs: Electricity, insurance and infrastructure matter just as much as food.
• Invest in innovation: Solar energy, data systems and food delivery technology have long-term payoff.
• Support Logistics: Transportation, refrigeration and storage are huge challenges for rural food pantries.
• Champion Long-Term Planning: Help food pantries move beyond crisis response into sustainable service.
  

The rural hunger gap isn’t some far-off crisis. It’s here. It’s now. It’s reality. Olean Food Pantry stands in it every day, alongside thousands of families simply trying to get by. When government resources fall short, philanthropy is not just helpful — it’s vital. 

Food security isn’t a luxury. It’s a human right. It’s a foundation for everything else. Will you help fill the gap where decision-makers often fall short? Your support allows us to not only keep our doors open, but also to do more, reach more and plan for a hunger-free future.

Click here to make your tax-deductible cash donation today.

A meal to a family in need provides more than just sustenance. Local food equity provides dignity in powerful ways most people probably couldn’t understand unless they’ve lived with hunger themselves.

Stop by your local food pantry and see for yourself. Of course, you wouldn’t be surprised to see shelves of canned goods, freezers stocked with healthy protein, baskets of fresh produce, and the like. But look deeper and you’ll find true community-led solutions to food insecurity.

At Olean Food Pantry, we know rural hunger relief must go beyond filling empty stomachs. Supporting local food equity in underserved areas must also uphold dignity, respect and choice.

We’ve embraced a community-led model to propel our food equity mission forward. It’s designed to serve our neighbors with compassion and cultural awareness — and informed by the very people we serve.

Food Equity in Underserved Areas Begins with Choice

At the heart of our work is the Shopper’s Choice model. Also known as Client Choice, it’s a revolutionary approach in rural hunger relief that empowers clients to select their own groceries, just like at a grocery store.

(Except we provide healthy groceries and helpful household items free of charge.)

Gone are the days of receiving whatever’s in the box, whether it fits your dietary needs or not. With Shopper’s Choice, families and individuals walk through our pantry aisles and choose foods that reflect their preferences, health concerns, cultural traditions and cooking styles.

This approach honors each person’s humanity. And it does so while reducing waste, increasing nutrition, and restoring a sense of normalcy for families facing financial hardship.

“It’s not just food,” one pantry visitor shared. “It’s freedom. It’s being trusted to know what’s right for my family.”

Voices at the Table: Community Led Solutions to Food Insecurity

Food equity isn’t something we do for our community — it’s something we build with them.

Olean Food Pantry is deeply community-informed and volunteer-led, with every program decision shaped by listening to the needs and experiences of the people we serve. From community surveys to direct conversations in the pantry aisles, our model evolves based on real feedback.

For example, we aim to expand culturally relevant offerings including specialty rices, sauces and dietary-specific items. This service philosophy comes directly from our friends and neighbors requesting foods they know how to prepare and enjoy, aligning with cultural and spiritual beliefs. (Think: Judaic Kosher or Islamic Hilal diets.)

We’re also eager to partner with local healthcare providers and nutritionists to better understand medical dietary needs, especially among those with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Food equity also means health equity.

Partnerships That Power Local Food Access

Feeding families with dignity is only possible through collaboration. As a nonprofit leveraging partnerships to feed families, OFP proudly works alongside:

• Canticle Farm and local growers for fresh produce.
• Tops, Walmart, Aldi and other grocers for donated shelf-stable items.
• Churches, schools and civic groups who host drives and raise awareness.
  

These partnerships (and more) help us meet the full spectrum of needs for food equity in underserved areas. And not just with food, but also with diapers, hygiene items, household goods and critical referrals.

Olean Food Pantry: Striving for Food Equity in Underserved Areas

Serving Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, Olean Food Pantry operates in a region where many families live far from full-service grocery stores and even farther from health-supporting resources. Many are working families who earn just above the poverty line and fall through the cracks of government support.

That’s why supporting local food equity in underserved areas isn’t optional — it’s urgent. When families have access to healthy food in a dignified setting:

• Children learn better in school.
• Seniors on fixed incomes stay healthier and out of hospitals.
• Parents miss fewer days of work.
• Community resilience grows.
  

This is how hunger relief becomes a catalyst for long-term change.

A Food Equity Model Worth Supporting

OFP’s approach to food equity has drawn the attention of community-focused donors, major funders and national food justice networks. What makes us stand out?

• Client-first decision-making.
• Cultural humility and responsiveness.
• All-volunteer operations that maximize impact.
• Sustainable planning through solar energy and tech upgrades.
  

But none of it is possible without support.

Be Part of the Hunger Solution

At Olean Food Pantry, we believe that food and dignity is a human right. With nearly 30,000 people visiting us every year, free food distribution is how we express that every day. We invite you to:

• Donate to support equitable food access.
• Volunteer to be a part of our mission.
• Advocate for community-led solutions to food insecurity

Together, we can build a rural Western New York where every family has not just food — but choice, health and hope.

Click here to make your tax-deductible donation today!

At the heart of Olean Food Pantry beats something rare and incredibly powerful: a fully volunteer-run operation with widespread community impact.

Every smiling face at check-in, every hand stocking shelves, every person unloading delivery trucks or tending the community garden — they’re all volunteers. No one gets paid. And yet, tens of thousands of families across Cattaraugus, Allegany and Chautauqua counties receive free, nutritious food (and household supplies) every year.

This volunteer-led food distribution model is nothing short of inspiring! It’s neighbors helping neighbors — grassroots compassion backed by strategic partnerships. And it works.

A Rural Food Pantry Led by All-Volunteer Staff: Powered by People, Not Paychecks

In 2024 alone, Olean Food Pantry served over 27,000 individuals — a record-breaking number driven by rising demand, shrinking public support and economic instability. But even as food insecurity numbers soared, our budget didn’t inflate with payroll costs.

Why? Because our dedicated volunteers carry this mission forward. Food pantry volunteers – not just here, but everywhere – often tell similar stories:

• “Diane,” a retired teacher, arrives early each week to sort canned goods and fresh produce. “This pantry helped my sister when she was going through a tough time,” she says. “Now I’m giving back.”
• “Rich,” a former food pantry client, now assists clients to choose the healthiest food options. “There was a time I was on the other side of the table,” he says. “They fed me. Now I feed others.”
  

These aren’t just kind gestures. They’re transformative acts of solidarity that lower costs and deepen community trust.

Strategic Partnerships = Stronger Impact at Volunteer Food Pantries

Volunteers keep our wheels turning — but community partnerships fuel the engine in the War on Hunger. Through collaboration with local farms, grocers, churches, schools and civic organizations, Olean Food Pantry ensures a steady flow of food, supplies and other resources to meet growing needs.

We proudly partner with:

• Canticle Farm and backyard gardeners to supply seasonal, organic produce.
• Local grocery stores like Tops, Walmart, Aldi, and Olean Food Barn for in-kind donations.
• Churches and civic groups that organize food drives and fundraisers.
• Foundations and grant funders that support infrastructure, sustainability and innovation.

(We’re also open to building relationships with healthcare providers to refer patients in crisis to our pantry. After all, food is medicine and hunger is unequivocally a public health crisis.)

This network of trust and cooperation allows us to stretch every dollar and deepen our impact — especially critical in a rural region where access and equity are often hard-won.

A Volunteer-Run Food Pantry with Low Overhead & High Impact 

Our all-volunteer model ensures that donor dollars go directly to what matters most: feeding individuals and families in need.

• We don’t spend on salaries.
• We invest in fresh food, infrastructure, technology and client dignity.
• We work smart, lean and transparently.
  

That’s why grantmakers and major donors consider Olean Food Pantry a high-impact nonprofit. We don’t just distribute food. We multiply impact through a model that prioritizes community ownership and financial stewardship.

Nonprofit Leveraging Partnerships to Feed Families: A Model Rooted in Community

Rural areas have become places of scarcity, where citizens often lack access to basic human needs. Unfortunately, communities like ours in Western New York are left behind in the struggle for resources.

But at Olean Food Pantry, we prefer to see abundance in our people. When communities step up to care for one another — not out of obligation, but from the heart — systems begin to change.

• Volunteers stay because they see the difference they make.
• Clients return with gratitude and, sometimes, become volunteers themselves.
• Funders take notice because they see real outcomes, driven by real people.

Join the War on Hunger at Olean Food Pantry

If you’ve ever wondered what kind of difference you could make in your own backyard — look no further than the all-volunteer food pantry down the street.

Whether you donate groceries, make a cash gift, write a grant or volunteer your time, you’re becoming part of something bigger: a movement that says no one should go hungry — not here, not now, not ever.

Because when neighbors help neighbors, hope is never in short supply. Together, we can keep building a hunger-free Western New York — one neighbor at a time.

Click here to make your tax-deductible donation today!