NORWICH – In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Roots and Wings and Commerce Chenango are jointly working to promote a county-wide food drive to benefit food pantries and help residents in these tough economic times.

The food drive, which officially got underway on Patriot’s Day earlier this week, will be open to donations until Sept. 28. Collection sites are established at NBT branches around the county and in Norwich at the Eaton Center and One City Plaza. Commerce Chenango and Catholic Charities Roots and Wings will collect and disburse food items to 18 different food pantries.

Catholic Charities Director of Community Outreach Gary Quarella said the drive is a worth while cause and a chance to extend a helping hand when food distribution sites need it most.

“All the food pantries across the county are struggling,” Quarella said, citing declining donations throughout the year. “In between holidays, people tend to forget that there is a need, but the need doesn’t go down,” he said.

A recent regional survey spanning 11 counties, conducted by the Food Bank of Central New York, found that since 2006, people turning to emergency food programs increased 82 percent. In addition, 73 percent of households that access emergency food programs are ‘food insecure’, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from, and of those, 32 percent are ‘very food insecure’, which often results in a reduction of food rationing among family members.