By Jeff Martin
Food insecurity remains a major issue across the U.S., with 10.5% of households struggling to access enough nutritious food in 2020, according to the USDA. The pandemic drove up the use of food pantries, underscoring how vital these programs are for millions of Americans, according to figures from the United States Department of Agriculture.
In New York State, hunger touches every county, including rural areas like Allegany County, where geographic and economic challenges make accessing food even harder. Feeding America estimates that thousands of New Yorkers rely on local food programs to help meet their nutritional needs, according to figures from Feeding America.
Below is an extensive list for food pantries throughout the area:
Cattaraugus County:
- Olean Food Pantry
Address: 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760
Phone: (716) 372-4989
Hours: Distributes food equaling 18 meals per person to low-income families once a month. Also hosts the Mobile Food Pantry Truck.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Creekside Chapel Food Pantry
Address: 2523 Five Mile Road, Allegany, NY 14706
Phone: (716) 372-0388
Hours: Thursdays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Please use the entrance at the rear of the main building.
CREEKSIDECHAPEL.ORG
- Community Action Food Pantry
Address: 25 Jefferson Street, Salamanca, NY 14779
Phone: (716) 945-1041
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Delevan Food Pantry
Address: Church & Delevan Avenue, Delevan, NY 14042
Phone: (716) 492-1292
Hours: Thursday: 9:00 am – Noon.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Hinsdale Food Pantry
Address: 3828 Main Street, Hinsdale, NY 14743
Phone: (716) 557-2449
Hours: 4th Saturday of the Month: 9:00 am – Noon & On Call.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Limestone Food Pantry
Address: 950 Main Street, Limestone, NY 14753
Phone: (716) 925-7116
Hours: 3rd Saturday of the Month: 8:00 am – Noon.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Portville Food Pantry
Address: 19 North Main Street, Portville, NY 14770
Phone: (716) 933-6426
Hours: 4th Wednesday of the Month: 10:00 am – Noon and 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm & On Call.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Randolph Food Pantry
Address: 1 Bank Street, Randolph, NY 14772
Phone: (716) 358-4848
Hours: On Call.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Salvation Army of Olean
Address: 310 East State Street, Olean, NY 14760
Phone: (716) 372-4765
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Seneca Nation Food Pantry
Address: 262 Broad Street, Salamanca, NY 14779
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Solomon’s Porch Food Pantry
Address: Fillmore & Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, NY 14731
Phone: (716) 699-5751
Hours: On Call.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- St. Vincent de Paul
Address: 441 North Union Street, Olean, NY 14760
Phone: (716) 373-0815
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
OLEANFOODPANTRY.ORG
- Valley View Food Pantry
Address: 5416 Route 353, Little Valley, NY 14755
Phone: (716) 938-9797
Hours: Friday AFTER the 2nd Thursday of the Month: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- The Bridge
Address: 95 East Main St., Allegany, NY 14706
Phone: (716) 373-1330 ext 16
Hours: Thursday, Friday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Chautauqua County:
Address: 319 Washington Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Phone: (716) 366-1787
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 3:45 pm
Services: Emergency food pantry providing food for 3 meals for 5 days to families in need.
211WNY.ORG
- St. Susan Center
Address: 31 Water Street, Jamestown, NY 14701
Phone: (716) 664-2253
Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 am – 2:45 pm; Saturday: 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Services: Daily bagged lunches available for pickup in the foyer.
- Westfield Community Kitchen
Address: 101 East Main Street, Westfield, NY 14787
Phone: (716) 326-3243
Hours: Monday & Friday: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm; Wednesday: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Services: Provides meals during listed hours.
- Brocton-Portland Food Pantry
Address: 7081 East Route 20, Portland, NY 14769
Phone: (716) 326-3417 or (716) 326-2492
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Services: Provides food assistance; call for emergency appointments.
- Cassadaga Food Pantry
Address: 25 Maple Avenue, Cassadaga, NY 14718
Phone: (716) 595-8718
Hours: Thursday: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Services: Offers food assistance; call for emergency appointments.
- Salvation Army – Dunkirk
Address: 704 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Phone: (716) 366-3701
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Services: Currently offering delivery only; call to schedule.
CHQGOV.COM
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Food Pantry
Address: 336 Washington Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Phone: (716) 679-9055
Hours: Wednesday: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Services: Provides food assistance during listed hours.
CHQGOV.COM
- Neighbor to Neighbor Food Pantry
Address: 9495 Prospect Road, Forestville, NY 14062
Phone: (716) 257-6081
Hours: Tuesday: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Services: Offers food assistance; call for emergency appointments.
- Forestville Food Pantry
Address: 3 Park Street, Forestville, NY 14062
Phone: (716) 965-2655
Hours: Thursday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Services: Provides food assistance during listed hours.
- Ripley Community Council Food Pantry
Address: 14 North State Street, Ripley, NY 14775
Phone: (716) 736-4386
Hours: Tuesday: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Saturday: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Services: Offers food assistance during listed hours.
- Bread of Life Food Pantry
Address: 1006 West 3rd Street, Jamestown, NY 14701
Phone: (716) 483-3687
Hours: Tuesday: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm; Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Services: Provides food assistance during listed hours.
please log on to www.thevillagerny.com and read Jeff Martin’s article “Food Pantries Becoming More Vital, How the Pandemic Drove Up Use of Fundamental Help