Warming House Celebrates 50 Years of Combating Food Insecurity in Olean, Serving Over 23,000 Meals

(Article submitted by The Warming House for our Community Day newspaper)

Food Insecurity in Olean is real. Simply put, many of our neighbors aren’t always sure where they will get their next meal, or a meal for tomorrow or the next day. With the cost of goods and services continuing to push upward, many rely on the Warming House for that next meal. 

Good Community. Good Dignity. Good Nourishment. Each day St. Bonaventure University students and community volunteers attempt to offer community, dignity and nourishment to everyone who comes to the Warming House for a meal. 

The Warming House served over 23,000 meals in 2023, serving both an eat-in, a take-out, and a limited delivery meal service. This number is 10,000 more than in 2022. The need continues to be great.

The Warming House is celebrating 50 years of service to the Olean community this year. Begun as a drop-in community center for elderly adults in February 1974, the Warming House evolved into a hot meal service, serving one meal a day Sunday through Friday. 

Typically, meals are prepared from scratch and when time allows, St. Bonaventure University students sit down with the guests for a cup of coffee or dessert after the meal is served. 

Mike Waseda, the assistant director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern at St. Bonaventure University supports and trains the students working at the Warming House. 

Waseda often says, “supporting a student-run soup kitchen is both unique and challenging. Our students come, get trained at the Warming House and then graduate. And the cycle begins again.” Waseda and the student leadership team are so very grateful for the continued community support in serving the most vulnerable of our community. 

“When our students are away on breaks, we rely on our community partners and volunteers to prepare and serve quality meals each day. Thank you Olean, so very much for your support and care.”

If you are interested in donating to the Warming House or volunteering, please contact, Mike Waseda hwaseda@sbu.edu or Alice Miller Nation anation@sbu.edu.