Food pantries in Chautauqua County have been finding it difficult to keep up with demand. Donations or funds are desperately needed for many of these organizations to continue serving those in need.

Small and large pantries alike have been finding it more difficult to provide the help that is needed. A mix of factors such as lessened funding, increased demand, and difficulty in picking up donations is a big part of the reason it has been more challenging to fulfill the growing need.

St. Susan Center is one of the many who has been feeling the effects of these challenges. Executive Director Cherie Rowland spoke on decreases toward grant funds that the organization has seen. Funding which the organization applies for through FeedMore WNY has been cut in half, according to Rowland. Rowland attributed this to the incredible amount of uncertainty and reductions towards funding all the way at the federal level.

Rowland noted that all of these challenges have certainly brought a greater number of people into the organization. St. Susan receives around a third of its revenue from local funders such as FeedMore meaning these cuts have a direct impact on what the organization can provide. Rowland noted the seemingly increased need for meals around the third week of the month. Rowland stated that the organization typically serves around 178 meals each day until it jumps to around 230 meals each day in that later part of the month. This may be attributed to SNAP benefits running out, said Rowland. This would suggest that many people relying on food assistance programs are not receiving enough. St. Susan accepts volunteer work and is always looking for donations, with individual giving providing a third of the organization’s funding, according to Rowland. Donations can even come in the form of unwanted foods.

Another organization that can attest to this growing need and lessened support is the Salvation Army Food Pantry. This pantry serves the most people in the city. The organization receives some of its funding from The United Way of Chautauqua County and some from FeedMore, according to Elizabeth Margarito. This means the pantry has had funding affected by the roughly $3.5 million cut from FeedMore’s product, said Margarito. The pantry relies heavily on the red kettle campaign to raise money for operations. Margarito noted that the organization did not reach their kettle goals this past year. Making a kettle this year is a major goal for the organization, as when they do not they must take from their principal to cover it. This lessens the overall interest they can get on the reserve fund over time, noted Margarito. The organization also has a need for more volunteer work, said Margarito. This need for volunteer work is only made worse by the increasing need for the organization’s services.

Many smaller organizations are hurting even worse despite many of them performing the important duty or servicing smaller, and rural, communities.

The food pantry in Frewsburg is one example of a rural pantry facing greater challenges. At the Carroll Town Board meeting on 9/10 coordinator Wendy Nelson spoke on the increasing challenges the pantry is facing. Nelson said the total expenses for the food pantry are about $16,996 and current funding totals about $22,573.65. This means the pantry costs are currently covered, however shifting costs and unstable grant allocation could put the organization into a deficit, said Nelson. Nelson noted that in the previous month’s order, for the first time in the pantry’s history, the pantry had to pay for the FeedMore order. While the total was only about $31.50 this is not stable in the long-term, noted Nelson. As a result of this Nelson asked the town board to consider including funding for the organization to rely on in the case of a shortage. Nelson noted the strong need for donations to the organization. The pantry sent out 44 letters upon the move to the Main St. location, only receiving a handful of responses, according to Nelson. The problems of the Frewsburg pantry seem to be consistent to many small rural pantries within the area.

Another pantry that has seen increasing challenges is God’s Groceries Food Pantry in the village of Panama. The pantry is operated out of the Panama Methodist Church. Director of the food pantry Tina Swineford spoke on the increasing financial challenges the pantry is facing. Swineford noted that the pantry receives very little in donations and that the main assistance they receive is an occasional check from the Jamestown Presbyterian Church. Swineford said that the pantry no longer receives donations from the congregation which has only worsened financial challenges. The pantry is responsible for serving three meals each day, five days per week, to between 30 and 40 residents every month, said Swineford. This small operation provides an essential service in an area with more limited resources for financial assistance, making it crucial to increase support.

Food educational services have been facing additional struggles as well. Cornell Cooperative Extension works with Chautauqua County to provide services that better the community and the lives of the individuals within it. The organization delivers educational presentations, encourages community cooperation, and provides information on topics based on individual needs. Nutrition resource educator Linnea Haskin said that the organization has seen an increase in the number of requests for services or assistance referrals. Haskin pointed out that many of these families that have been in need of assistance are ones that have not previously required the organization’s help. This suggests an increasing need for food assistance in the area. Haskin also noted that the organization has had to halt certain service due to the loss of a grant that ended in Aug. While the organization has cut certain services, members are still providing food assistance referrals. Haskin noted the organization will continue to aid in determining eligibility and navigating the difficult process of applying.

All of these organizations are facing similar problems it seems. Lessened funding and a need for donational support seem to be amongst the greatest needs for many of these organizations. Locations such as St. Susan and The Salvation Army both noted the need for volunteer work to continue to assist with increasing demand. Oftentimes rural food pantries have a smaller operation and less storage space, which can prohibit the use of volunteers. In the case of God’s Groceries Food Pantry, there is too little room for additional volunteers and volunteer work is preferred to come from the church, according to Swineford. Due to this, donations seem to be a better way of supporting small or rural food pantries. With smaller overall budgets, a minimal donation to a local food pantry could provide the ability to assist an extra family in need.

To view a list of pantries and assistance programs in the county visit chautauquacountyny.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/Food Resource Guide.pdf.