A new fundraising initiative, the Dough-to-Go Fundraiser, is set to take place this Saturday, July 8, 2024, from 15:00 to 19:00 in the parking lot of the St. John the Evangelist Church in Olean, New York. This event will serve as a replacement for the traditional St. John’s Festival, which has been a fixture in the community for over four decades.
The fundraiser aims to bring back some of the beloved culinary offerings that festival-goers have come to enjoy, including cooked and uncooked pizzas, Italian sausage and meatball sandwiches, and cannolis. Prices for these items will range from $5 for a cannoli to $18 for a pizza. All sales will be conducted on a presale basis, with orders available through the church’s website at https://emcatholic.org/st-johns-dough-to-go-food-orders.
In addition to the food offerings, the event will feature a Large Raffle drawing at 19:00, with a total of $20,000 in cash prizes. Tickets can be purchased prior to the drawing or online, with all proceeds supporting the operations of St. John the Evangelist Church.
The transition from the St. John’s Festival to the Dough-to-Go Fundraiser comes after significant changes within the parish. For several years, the festival was canceled due to the pandemic, and while it returned briefly, challenges arose as the church faced potential merger discussions. In June 2024, the Diocese of Buffalo announced plans to sell the church property and merge the congregation with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
Despite internal debates about the feasibility of holding the festival, local church officials decided to proceed with the event for its 42nd iteration. Following appeals from parishioners, the diocese later confirmed in September that the property would remain with the church and serve as a secondary worship site and home for the Southern Tier Catholic School.
As the Dough-to-Go Fundraiser approaches, the community looks forward to celebrating together while supporting their local church during a time of transition.