Roots and Wings receives helping hand from unlikely source
NORWICH – With various sources of state and federal funding becoming more and more difficult to come by, Roots and Wings in Norwich is getting a little extra boost from one seemingly unlikely charity organization.
Throughout the month of August, Roots and Wings - a subsidiary of Catholic Charities of Chenango County - received a helping hand from Under My Skin for Life, a local charity group dominated by members with a motorcycle and tattoo lifestyle, and a noble mission to “help those in times of need.”
Members of Under My Skin for Life organized a month-long food drive by working collaboratively with participating local businesses, including Garf’s Deli, Park Place Restaurant, Service Pharmacy, NBT Bank and GHS Federal Credit Union. Collection boxes were set up in each business, encouraging members of the community to give what they can to help those who need help most.
As a result, more than 185 pounds of food was collected to stock the shelves of the Roots and Wings food pantry - not what organizers had hoped for, but a good start nonetheless.
“The numbers aren’t as high as we wanted them to be,” said Under My Skin for Life member Dan Hawkins, “but we are very happy with what we were able to collect.”
“When we heard that Roots and Wings was hurting for donations, we thought we should do something to help,” added Mike Gross, president of the New York Chapter of Under My Skin for Life. “We also think this a great opportunity to get the county to know who we are and what we do.”
Food pantries and soup kitchens across the county are currently facing challenging times. More than $23,000 from the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was denied the area in 2013 due to the local drop in unemployment and poverty rates which determine the county’s eligibility for such funding. It is the first slash in federal EFSP funding Chenango County has seen in over 30 years and hopes of seeing that money return in 2014 is quickly diminishing.
Despite cuts in federal funding, the Roots and Wings food pantry has seen record-setting turnouts this year, serving a total 1,567 households in Chenango County during the summer months. The agency saw an all-time high with 613 households (approximately 2,450 individuals) in July alone. Although the number of assisted households fell to 505 in August (2020 individuals), the numbers for 2013 have been consistently higher at Roots and Wings than 2012, according to Roots and Wings Coordinator Melinda Mandeville.
“We are very grateful for (Under My Skin for Life) and their donation,” said Catholic Charities Director Robin Beckwith. “We appreciate all the hard work they do for us and for our county.”
Under My Skin for Life will again partner with Catholic Charities of Chenango County for the upcoming event, “Bands, Brews and Barbecue,” a fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Chenango County. The event takes to the Chenango County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 28. For additional information, contact Catholic Charities at 334-8244.
For more information about Under My Skin for Life, visit its website, undermyskinforlife.org.
Throughout the month of August, Roots and Wings - a subsidiary of Catholic Charities of Chenango County - received a helping hand from Under My Skin for Life, a local charity group dominated by members with a motorcycle and tattoo lifestyle, and a noble mission to “help those in times of need.”
Members of Under My Skin for Life organized a month-long food drive by working collaboratively with participating local businesses, including Garf’s Deli, Park Place Restaurant, Service Pharmacy, NBT Bank and GHS Federal Credit Union. Collection boxes were set up in each business, encouraging members of the community to give what they can to help those who need help most.
As a result, more than 185 pounds of food was collected to stock the shelves of the Roots and Wings food pantry - not what organizers had hoped for, but a good start nonetheless.
“The numbers aren’t as high as we wanted them to be,” said Under My Skin for Life member Dan Hawkins, “but we are very happy with what we were able to collect.”
“When we heard that Roots and Wings was hurting for donations, we thought we should do something to help,” added Mike Gross, president of the New York Chapter of Under My Skin for Life. “We also think this a great opportunity to get the county to know who we are and what we do.”
Food pantries and soup kitchens across the county are currently facing challenging times. More than $23,000 from the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was denied the area in 2013 due to the local drop in unemployment and poverty rates which determine the county’s eligibility for such funding. It is the first slash in federal EFSP funding Chenango County has seen in over 30 years and hopes of seeing that money return in 2014 is quickly diminishing.
Despite cuts in federal funding, the Roots and Wings food pantry has seen record-setting turnouts this year, serving a total 1,567 households in Chenango County during the summer months. The agency saw an all-time high with 613 households (approximately 2,450 individuals) in July alone. Although the number of assisted households fell to 505 in August (2020 individuals), the numbers for 2013 have been consistently higher at Roots and Wings than 2012, according to Roots and Wings Coordinator Melinda Mandeville.
“We are very grateful for (Under My Skin for Life) and their donation,” said Catholic Charities Director Robin Beckwith. “We appreciate all the hard work they do for us and for our county.”
Under My Skin for Life will again partner with Catholic Charities of Chenango County for the upcoming event, “Bands, Brews and Barbecue,” a fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Chenango County. The event takes to the Chenango County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 28. For additional information, contact Catholic Charities at 334-8244.
For more information about Under My Skin for Life, visit its website, undermyskinforlife.org.
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