Delivering Christmas – Roots & Wings
I’ve often wondered about the origin of the name ‘Roots and Wings,’ and when I went there on Friday morning to volunteer, Director Melinda Mandeville explained.
“The roots are the basis for community when people need help they always have their roots and we try to offer any help we can. Wings, as in independence, because it is always our hope that those being aiding by our program will be able to fly on their own eventually,” said Mandeville.
Roots and Wings is a a partnership program sponsored by Catholic Charities and works closely with many local agencies including Opportunities for Chenango. The agency works with individuals and families to help address their needs and to build longer-term solution to problems.
The basic needs program was established in 1997 and was designed to “coordinate, assist, strengthen and promote opportunities for people to move from dependence to self-sufficiency,” states the program in its mission statement.
The site located on 34-36 Berry St. in Norwich is the hub of several good will clothing, household items and food collections in the region.
On Friday, I sat in the facility’s warehouse with other volunteers and Norwich High School students sorting out piles of collected clothing. You know those randomly-filed and chaotically-arranged bags stuffed with old clothes you drop off at the good will station (guilty as charged)? Well ,someone eventually sorts through them and that is essentially what we did most of the morning.
Beside just clothing, the program works cooperatively with a number of agencies to help provide work experience and placements for people ready to return to work.
Mandeville said each Christmas the program prepares 200 Christmas food baskets that are donated to local families on a first-come, first-served basis. The program began accepting applicants Nov. 3 and had filled the list in eight days.
“Its important for people to know that even working families right now are struggling, and we see a lot of new families coming in looking for help,” said Mandeville.
Roots and Wings is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the food pantry is Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is closed every day from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. If you are interested in volunteering of contributing to the Roots and Wings program, call 336-7879 and ask for Melinda or Kathy.
“The roots are the basis for community when people need help they always have their roots and we try to offer any help we can. Wings, as in independence, because it is always our hope that those being aiding by our program will be able to fly on their own eventually,” said Mandeville.
Roots and Wings is a a partnership program sponsored by Catholic Charities and works closely with many local agencies including Opportunities for Chenango. The agency works with individuals and families to help address their needs and to build longer-term solution to problems.
The basic needs program was established in 1997 and was designed to “coordinate, assist, strengthen and promote opportunities for people to move from dependence to self-sufficiency,” states the program in its mission statement.
The site located on 34-36 Berry St. in Norwich is the hub of several good will clothing, household items and food collections in the region.
On Friday, I sat in the facility’s warehouse with other volunteers and Norwich High School students sorting out piles of collected clothing. You know those randomly-filed and chaotically-arranged bags stuffed with old clothes you drop off at the good will station (guilty as charged)? Well ,someone eventually sorts through them and that is essentially what we did most of the morning.
Beside just clothing, the program works cooperatively with a number of agencies to help provide work experience and placements for people ready to return to work.
Mandeville said each Christmas the program prepares 200 Christmas food baskets that are donated to local families on a first-come, first-served basis. The program began accepting applicants Nov. 3 and had filled the list in eight days.
“Its important for people to know that even working families right now are struggling, and we see a lot of new families coming in looking for help,” said Mandeville.
Roots and Wings is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the food pantry is Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is closed every day from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. If you are interested in volunteering of contributing to the Roots and Wings program, call 336-7879 and ask for Melinda or Kathy.
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