NORWICH – Community action groups across the state are hoping to raise awareness of their impact on the people they serve. Opportunities for Chenango Director Wayne H. Viera told those gathered at a special luncheon at Morrisville State College’s Norwich Campus this week that in just the last decade, the organization had been awarded and distributed $96,803,178 in state and federal grants in Chenango County.

The funds were received through successful grant applications made by the agency and reallocated into the local economy through OFC’s 22 community programs and services. They include the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Preschool Head Start and the Early Head Start, Child and Adult Food program, Quaranta Housing Service (QHS), Back on the Rack II, the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP), Keys to Success, the Foreclosure Intervention program and Women Infants Children (WIC) to name a few.

“Thousands of low-moderate income families and individuals have received services that have propelled them toward self-sufficiency,” Viera told the audience.

The director also said one of the most important parts of OFC’s last 10 years of success relied heavily on its ability to work cooperatively and network services with other local organizations.

The event was attended by dozens of representatives from the different partnerships OFC has developed over the years and many of them spoke at the luncheon.

Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano shared a number of success stories he said directly aided city residents in the last year.