PRESS RELEASES
CUTCO employees raise much needed funds for local food banks
Apr 10, 2009
For local food pantries, it’s a serious case of doing more with less during this economic recession. They’re serving more and more people, while donations continue to fall off.
On April 9, they got an unexpected boost from office employees at CUTCO Corp. who donated $1,485 to four local food pantries.
Using the NCAA basketball tournament as inspiration, office employees at CUTCO Corporation in Olean laced up their sneakers and pulled on their jeans to raise money for the Olean Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes in Olean, The Bridge in Allegany and the Hinsdale/Ischua Food Pantry.
To raise the money, employees donated $1 a day to wear sneakers to work each day during the NCAA tournament, and $5 to wear jeans on each Friday.
The donation was a pleasant surprise for the food pantries.
“We don’t expect donations like this at this time of year,” said Ben Schwabenbauer, president of the Olean Food Pantry. “It’s usually Christmas time when people think to donate.”
But the need for donations is greater than ever.
“We see three, four, five new families every time the doors open,” said Katherine Kayes of Loaves and Fishes. “We’re seeing more working families who say they never thought they would find themselves in this position.”
At the Olean Food Pantry, the story is the same. “Only 12 percent of our clients are on social services,” said Mr. Schwabenbauer. “The need is great among the working poor and the elderly.”
The Olean Food Pantry in March served 521 individuals, 238 families and served 4,689 meals. At Loaves and Fishes an estimated 400 families are being served a month, and that number is expected to rise over the summer. The Bridge estimates that they support 100 to 120 families with the food they take in, and over at the Hinsdale/Ischua Food Pantry, 80 families are assisted each month.
“The donation comes at a time when lines at food banks are growing longer, yet donations to these organizations are down,” said CUTCO spokeswoman Kathleen Donovan. “This recession has affected all of us either directly or indirectly, and this is one small way our employees felt they could do something to help our neighbors, friends and family.”
While the timing of the donation was a surprise, the generosity from CUTCO Corporation was not, according to Mr. Schwabenbauer.
“So many times I’ve gone to the community when there was a need,” he said. “The people in this community and the local business owners are great. They’re so good to us.”
Food and monetary donations are always welcome, but the pantries are also always looking for volunteers. And, at the Bridge they also help families with furniture and clothing.
Along with the food pantry services, people in need can visit the Food Express Truck that visits the Loaves and Fishes parking lot every third Tuesday of the month. The truck supplies focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy. People who show up with a New York state identification, can pick up free food from the truck. People are encouraged to show up at 10 a.m. and the truck arrives at 11 a.m.
The community is reminded that there are many other food pantries and services to help those in need. These organizations work cooperatively and many churches help promote their services.
