United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. Here in Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties, we help people make a difference for our neighbors, especially when it comes to health, youth opportunity, and economic security.

Need in Our Community

The need in our community is great. United Way works with United for ALICE to compile data identifying needs for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) individuals and families. 

While ALICE earn more than the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), their income is insufficient to cover essential living expenses such as housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology.

Half of our two counties’ households sit below the ALICE Threshold - meaning ALICE and poverty combined  - and struggle to afford the basics. Here are some key statistics: 

• 15% of New York's 7,758,644 households earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

• 31% were ALICE households, earning above the FPL but not enough to afford basic necessities in their communities.

• Combined, 46% of households in New York were below the ALICE Threshold (including both those in poverty and ALICE households).

Ensuring Healthy Communities 

At United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties, we are committed to the health of our friends and neighbors. 

Food insecurity and limited access to health services and health education can significantly undermine our community’s ability to reach its full potential.

According to Feeding America’s 2022 data, the latest the organization has for our area, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties’ food insecurity rates each hover around 14%. The Olean Food Pantry, for instance, has seen a 94% increase in the number of clients they’ve helped over the past three years.

By supporting initiatives, like Allegany County Community Opportunities and Rural Development, Inc. (ACCORD) pop-up food pantries, St. Bonaventure University’s Warming House, Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry & Outreach, and the Allegany Senior Foundation’s Home Delivered Meals program, we help build communities where all of our neighbors are not just surviving but also contributing effectively to their own well-being. 

Unlocking Future Success through Youth Opportunity

Education is also a cornerstone for success in school, work and life. We partner with early childhood programs such as Be-A-Friend Program, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara and the Southern Tier (BBBS), offering one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. 

An independent study by Public/Private Ventures, an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, showed that a child with a Big Brother or Big Sister was 90% more likely to do well in school, 46% less likely to use drugs or alcohol, and 89% less likely to make bad decisions. 

What this means for families is simple yet powerful: kids with mentors and support have a better chance of graduating high school, and more.  

As well as BBBS, our United Way supports a number of programs to help young people succeed, including Houghton Royal Family Kids Camp, St. Bonaventure University’s Bona Buddies, Girl Scouts of Western NY, Allegheny Highlands Council, BSA, and Special Olympics New York, Inc.

We’re seeking not just to meet immediate educational needs but to build a strong foundation for every child in our community. 

Economic Security: A Generational Investment

We’re also focusing on adults, particularly in the realm of job skills and financial education. By supporting Southern Tier Traveling Teacher, Inc., we're creating avenues for people to earn a wage that supports a family, with jobs that can advance a career. 

Southern Tier Traveling Teacher’s ABE/HSE Program provides tutoring services to help Allegany County residents earn a High School Equivalency Diploma which ultimately leads to regular, full-time employment and the opportunity for self-sufficiency. 

In Allegany and Cattaraugus counties, many families struggle with underemployment. Interventions like the Traveling Teachers’ programs are important because they help break the cycle of financial instability that can trap families for generations. 

UWCAC also supports Literacy West NY, Inc.’s Transport(Ed) program in Allegany County providing reliable transportation options to adults in its education program.

Through Transport(Ed), enrolled individuals have the opportunity to connect with various community services, participate in workforce readiness programs, and explore different career pathways, mitigating another one of our area’s biggest challenges – rural isolation.

Our aim is to go beyond quick fixes, providing lasting solutions that elevate entire communities. 

How Can You Help?

We’re making meaningful strides, but challenges remain.

Far too many people in our community struggle to meet basic needs, and too many children risk falling behind. 

It’s not a problem one sector or organization can solve. But with your support, we can shift the odds for our neighbors. 

Leading the Way

You can help lead the way for a better future for Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. Please donate today.