WHAT IS IT?
The Portville Community Food Pantry is a volunteer organization of the Portville community. It is a supplemental and emergency food pantry seeking to serve the residents of the Portville School District. The operation of the food pantry is supervised by a committee, the Portville Community Food Pantry Committee, representing churches and organizations of the Portville community.

WHO DOES IT SERVE?
Anyone who receives assistance (food stamps, welfare, Social Security) and is a Portville resident (resides in the Portville School District), or anyone deemed in need by the food pantry volunteers, is eligible to receive food from the Portville Community Food Pantry. Eligible persons may receive food as needed (no limitations on frequency of use).

WHERE DOES THE FOOD COME FROM?
We receive USDA food items through Cattaraugus Community Action, Inc. on a monthly basis. Distribution and pickup  of USDA food is on the third Wednesday of each month at the Bethany Lutheran  on Leo Moss Drive in Olean. Food donations are received from local churches and Stroehmann's Thrift Store. Annual food drives are sponsored by the Portville Elementary School, the Portville Chapter of the National Honor Society, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. We also supplement our food supply by purchasing food items with monies donated to the food pantry.

HOW IS THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED?
The Portville Community Food Pantry is located at the First Presbyterian Church, 19 North Main Street, Portville, NY. It is open the 4th Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and as needed on an emergency basis. We try to provide enough food for three meals a day for three days according to the number of eligible family members. The food pantry is staffed by volunteers recruited by the Portville Community Food Pantry Committee.

Are there any special food items needed?
We are presently serving between 50 and 60 families each month. We try to provide enough food for three meals a day for three days according to the number of eligible family members. We give similar food packages to each family, so we need a significant amount of a particular food item. For example, if we are giving out spaghetti and sauce, we need 50+ boxes of spaghetti and 50+ jars of sauce. To help keep our shelves stocked with the staples, we will be collecting the same food items each month from area churches. A bushel basket will be available at the church for food donations.

The following food items are always in need:

  • spaghetti
  • spaghetti sauce
  • canned tuna
  • macaroni and cheese
  • canned pears
  • canned green beans
  • canned soup
  • rice
  • pork and beans