New Service Hours at Olean Food Pantry: A Commitment to Our Clients & Volunteers
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 adjustment to our service hours for Indoor Choice Shopping.
Beginning Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, these new hours will help us ensure that we can serve everyone who needs us in a way that respects the time and energy of the volunteers who make our services possible. The new hours also aim to streamline operations to limit the time pantry visitors must spend in line.
Updated Indoor Choice Shopping Hours:
To take part in Indoor Choice Shopping, clients must arrive and be in line in the Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot to receive a service number during the following times:
- Mondays: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Fridays: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
What Led to These Changes?
Over time, we’ve seen the demand for our services increase, with more families and individuals in need of support than ever before. As part of our commitment to every person we serve, we want to make sure our volunteers have the resources — and the time — to assist each client without running significantly over their work hours.
Until now, our service line has allowed clients to enter until the final minutes of our hours, which has often resulted in our volunteers working up to an hour-and-a-half past the official closing time. For the hardworking individuals who dedicate themselves to helping out at Olean Food Pantry, this change is essential to ensure they can return home to their own families on time.
How It Works
The Olean Food Pantry remains open for overall services:
- Mondays: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Fridays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Clients arriving within the final hour of each shift (after 3:30 PM on Mondays and after 1:00 PM on Fridays) will still receive food support with a prepacked Express Food Box. This Express Food Box will ensure families have essentials until their next visit and that all clients can continue to take part in Indoor Choice Shopping twice a month.
Why This Change Matters
We deeply appreciate the understanding and patience of our clients as we make this important shift. These new hours enable us to provide sustainable, quality service for the long term, keeping our team energized and equipped to continue serving the community effectively.
Thank You for Your Support & Understanding!
As we enter this Holiday Season of Giving and experience an even greater need in our community, we thank you for supporting us in providing not only food but also hope and stability to the Olean community. We’re here to help, and we’re grateful to our volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this all possible.
For any questions or concerns about the new service hours, please feel free to reach out at (716) 372-4989 or oleanfoodpantry@yahoo.com.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you better!
And, as always, if you’re interested in helping Olean Food Pantry’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign to fight the War on Hunger, donate today at www.oleanfoodpantry.org/donate.
