The Warming House and Bona Buddies, two outreach programs under the umbrella of St. Bonaventure University’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern, have received grants from the United Way of Cattaraugus County.
The Warming House received a $10,000 grant; the nation’s oldest student-run soup kitchen is located at 164 N. Union St. in Olean. The Warming House uses the funds to purchase fresh food to make healthier meals for the guests and to support everyday operations.
“These grants give us the opportunity to create an impact on the lives of people in our local community,” said Alice Miller Nation, director of the FCSC. “The money allows us to continue to help those in need like we have been for more than 40 years.”
Bona Buddies received a $150 mini-grant to help cover the costs of renting a bus for their trip to Pfeiffer Nature Center in Portville. Bona Buddies is a youth mentoring program where one-to-one relationships are established between St. Bonaventure students and local children, ages 5 to 15.
“These opportunities allow our students to interact with the local community and grow in understanding of who they are as people,” Nation said. “They are able to make connections with people they might not have thought of before.”