By David Potter

Board President, Olean Food Pantry

(Editor’s note: This is the first in a four-part series by the Olean Food Pantry about solving food insecurity in our communities.)

Last summer, our Board of Directors began some serious discussion around fundraising and community impact. A nonprofit’s vision should be a world in which it doesn’t have to exist. That’s a world where the problem is solved.

In our case, that would mean a world where the Olean Food Pantry wouldn’t need to exist. That’s a world – or at least the Western New York counties we serve – without food insecurity.

A lofty goal.

But a look at the numbers shows a near doubling of community need (a 95.4% increase in pantry clients) the last three years. We routinely serve record numbers on distribution days. They come. They receive food. They return, just as hungry as before.

If ever there’s a call for lofty goals, that’s it.

By now, you’ve likely heard of Olean Food Pantry’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign. After 70 years of serving the greater Olean area, our Board agreed food distribution isn’t enough. Our ambitious fundraising goal will stock shelves for the next 10 years, so we can focus for the first time on solving systemic issues that cause hunger.

Ending hunger means ending poverty. Even the most advanced nations in the world haven’t come close to producing that result. But a small nonprofit on the front line of fighting hunger certainly can nurture partnerships and build programs that address root causes.

Here are a few avenues for grassroots impact to fight hunger one step at a time.

Community Partnerships

For years, we’ve enjoyed partnerships with regional nonprofits, farmers and grocers who share Olean Food Pantry’s vision of serving impoverished populations. We need more – a lot more.

With 10 years of financial stability, Olean Food Pantry can build new long-lasting partnerships with local businesses and other community organizations. We can expand upon old ones. Connecting with the continuum of services can improve our abilities to serve and create a network of support to refer related services, and for partners to refer to us.

A common issue in rural areas like ours is that resources are limited and siloed. Quite often, individuals and families don’t know what’s available to help in their own backyards. Which segues nicely to our next point.

Educating Our Community

Our pantry has always been a safe haven for people in need to stock up on grocery items, hygiene products and household needs. This level of service, while admirable, doesn’t solve community needs.

We must empower our friends and neighbors with the knowledge and skills to break the cycle of poverty and food insecurity.

Long-term sustainability affords the opportunity to invest in programs that extend beyond providing food assistance. Priority areas include workshops on:

• Meal planning and grocery budgeting
• Nutrition education
• Cooking skills and healthy recipes
• Food waste reduction

With more time and focus, Olean Food Pantry will be able to secure grants and form relationships with experts to educate clients.

Stability & Empowerment

A decade of stability will allow us to shift our focus from short-term fixes to long-term solutions for community stability and empowerment. Currently, programs like our community gardens and Mobile Food Pantry are innovative ways to provide food and involve people in their own well-being.

But it’s clear that new routes to community stability are needed as hunger only increases. We would love to hear your input as to how our communities could help people secure resources that improve lives and lift people from poverty. These may include easier ways for people to secure:

• Mental health counseling
• Health and wellness initiatives
• Affordable housing
• Transportation assistance
• Career skills and entrepreneur mentorship

The possibilities are nearly limitless when we have the financial firepower to think big. We aim for a decade of stocked shelves, not for the sake of serving food distribution needs alone, but rather to clear a path for solving the root causes of hunger.

Donate today: https://oleanfoodpantry.org/olean-food-pantry-fundraising-campaign-2024-25/.

(David Potter is Board President of the Olean Food Pantry. He can be reached at oleanfoodpantry@yahoo.com.)