Local food bank, church, and college students benefit from the work of 2023
From the Allegany County Ancient Order of Hibernians, gathered at the Wellsville Brewing Company
The Allegany County Ancient Order of Hibernians met this Tuesday at Wellsville Brewing to elect officers for 2024 as well as to make donations that help local charities. AOH Division President Matthew Cannon presented $1,500.00 in local food gift cards to Jim Campbell of the Joyce Family Food Pantry and Catholic Charities Outreach Center in Wellsville. Cannon praised the efforts of Jim Campbell and his staff that help provide food basics to over 2,000 individuals in Allegany County, NY which is a growing number. Cannon explained “that our AOH Division has made annual donations to the local food pantry and we hope to assist them even more in the future to help Jim and his team fight hunger in Allegany County”. Jim Campbell and his wife Kim were given a strong round of applause and kudos for their efforts supporting Catholic Charities and the Local Food Pantry in Wellsville.
Cannon also stated “ Our Division will be making donations this month to the local Salvation Army in Wellsville as well as the Fillmore, NY Food Pantry and the Cuba, NY Food pantry to help those organizations fight hunger and help the needy in our County.”
Matthew Cannon also presented two $500.00 scholarship Checks to offset tuition expenses for 2 local Freshman enrolled full time in College to Kavan O’Grady, son or Barbara and Tim O’Grady of Wellsville as well as Jack Byrnes of Hornell, NY who is the son of Victoria and David Byrnes. Kavan O’Grady is a freshman at Saint Bonaventure University in Olean and Jack Byrnes is a freshman at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. Both recipients are also active members of the local AOH Division.
President Cannon also presented on behalf of the Division a $250.00 Check to Father James Hartwell and Father Jeffrey Donovan of Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville to help their capital improvement fund for new from steps and railings.
Additional highlights of the local AOH year End meeting was to present awards for Hibernian of the Year as well as a Presidents Award. President Cannon had a very difficult choice this year and awarded Two AOH Hibernians of the Year Awards to Mike McCullough of Wellsville and to Kevin C. Daley of Buffalo. “Both Mike and Kevin always show up early and work extremely hard at our fundraisers and are extremely reliable and supportive members of our Allegany County AOH Division-they always ask what can I do to help?”. Kevin Daley was unable to attend the meeting but will receive his Hibernian of the Year Plaque in the near future from President Cannon.
The local AOH Division also elected officers for 2024 with Patrick Dougherty succeeding Matthew Cannon as President and John Dean of Andover succeeding Vice President David Byrnes. Both President Cannon and Vice President Byrnes have provided the local Division with strong leadership for the past 4 years in those positions as the Division has increased participation in both the local June Irish Road Bowling Tournament in Andover as well as the September Island park “Park in the Park Car Show” which help raise funds for our charitable donations throughout the year. In addition the local AOH Division is planning the 2nd Annual “Worlds Shortest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Wellsville, NY this March! Cannon Stated that “we will have more information to follow on the Shortest Parade in the New Year and that all 3 of our local AOH events bring in many families and people into Allegany County and experience the greatnesses of our Wellsville and Andover area. We raise funds locally and we donate locally as our Members love this area and help our neighbors”.
For more information on the Allegany NY AOH Division #1 go to the Facebook page:
