Community Day 2025: Rain Couldn’t Dampen Community Spirit

John Clark and Jose Sanchez, members of the Gold Cone winning team.

Even heavy rain couldn’t wash away the generosity of our community!

On Friday, June 6, dozens of dedicated volunteers took to the streets in Olean, Allegany, Portville, and Salamanca for United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties’ annual Community Day. Despite the weather, volunteers stood strong at intersections across the region, selling special editions of the Olean Times Herald to support local United Way-funded programs.

This year, our volunteers raised $3,405 to help our neighbors thrive. While that total was slightly down from last year – by about $500 – the spirit and determination of our volunteers made this year’s event just as meaningful.

So what impacted this year’s totals?

“We were hit with some serious rain this year,” said Executive Director Susan McAuley. “Many of our longtime volunteers couldn’t remember a single rainy Community Day until now. Mike Smith in Salamanca told me he’s been selling for about 20 years, and this was a first!”

The weather slowed down traffic and made selling a bit more challenging. Additionally, the team made the decision, in consultation with the Olean Police Department, to forgo placing volunteers at the busy Henley Street corner due to ongoing construction. While it was the right call for safety (especially in the rain), it definitely impacted our overall numbers.

Still, Community Day had plenty of bright spots — including our annual tradition of awarding the Golden Cone to the top-selling intersection!

🏆 This year’s Golden Cone goes to Front & Main in Olean!

The team of John Clark, Paul Eade, Jose Sanchez, and Kirk Windus raised an impressive $604!

A very close second place went to the Allegany crew – Paula and Al Bernstein, Monica Emery, and Darrell Neal – who brought in $589. Incredible work from both teams!

“I appreciate our wonderful volunteers so much,” McAuley added. “They were good-natured about the rain, and kept selling even in a downpour. We’re so lucky to have them. And thank you to everyone who rolled down their window, got rained on, and still bought a paper!”

Thank you to everyone who participated in Community Day 2025 – whether you sold papers, bought one, or simply honked and waved as you passed. Your support helps local programs continue to serve those who need it most.

Together, we weather the storms – and build a stronger community for all.