NORWICH – Student members of the Human Services Organization at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich campus were out in full force this week to collect food items from city residents for the pantry at Chenango County Roots and Wings.

Students took to the streets of Norwich over the weekend, hanging plastic bags (courtesy of the Sherburne Big M) on the front doors of residents all over the city. Each bag was accompanied by a note bidding the support of the community, and requested donations of non-perishable food items and other necessities for Roots and Wings. On Sunday, HSO members hit the streets again, this time collecting full bags resting at the thresholds of peoples’ homes.

Fred Weaver, professor of humanities and social science at the university, oversees the Human Services Organization and its annual food drive, now four years strong. According to him, charity this year was staggering as students collected more than 1,600 pounds of food – much more than what’s been collected in previous years, he explained. “A lot of people know that Roots and Wings always has a need,” he said, citing some donations that far exceeded expectations. “This was such a positive experience for the students. Some of these students will go on to work or even manage agencies where these kinds of strategies can be used.”