NORWICH – Not even three months after closing to re-evaluate its business model, Roots and Wings of Chenango County has finally re-opened the doors of its clothing and household goods center.

Roots and Wings, a Norwich-based emergency services and self-sufficiency program operated under the auspices of Catholic Charities of Chenango County, closed its clothing center on Berry Street in January. Program organizers said the purpose was to restructure the program in a way that makes it more fiscally viable.

Roots and Wings provides clothing, food, household goods and furniture for individuals and families in need.

Unfortunately, tapering financial support from traditional funding streams – including the Syracuse Diocese, the Chenango United Way, and local foundations – put the program under pressure to alter its service model. No changes were made to its food pantry where individuals still have access to free emergency food and other supplies; but the clothing and household goods center has now taken on a thrift store concept where customers can buy merchandise at a low cost.

It’s a transition that allows Roots and Wings to continue providing for the community, albeit in a slightly different way, according to Roots and Wings administrator Melinda Mandeville.

“We want to be able to still reach out to our customers – the needy, and people who are low-income – so we’re keeping prices low,” said Mandeville. “People have been starting to come back just by word of mouth.”