Hunger Relief in Western New York: How Strategic Partnerships Multiply Our Impact

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!