NORWICH – Armed with plastic bags and a whole lot of good will, members of the Morrisville State College Norwich Campus Human Service Organization will hit the streets of Norwich this weekend for their biannual food drive for Roots and Wings.

The food drive has become a worthwhile tradition for HSO, having brought in thousands of pounds of food over the years to keep the shelves of the Roots and Wings food pantry stocked. Starting today, HSO, with the additional help of partnering volunteers, will hang an empty plastic bag from the door handles of as many homes in Norwich as they can reach, along with a letter explaining their mission.

Residents are asked simply to fill the bags with non perishable food items and hang them back on their door to be collected by HSO members on Sunday morning. HSO will continue taking donations at the Norwich campus on Monday for anyone who misses the pick-up.

“Last fall, we had acquired 2,700 pounds of food during the food drive,” said HSO member Brenda Law. “That’s way over the amount than what we have collected in previous years.”

Many residents have come to expect the food drive, she added, which has resulted a generous increase in both donations and volunteers. This time around, it’s the campus’s First Year Experience students, Early Childhood Club, and Student Government Organization that have stepped up to help. Of course, HSO is always welcoming of new volunteers from the community too, Law added.