Roots & Wings Volunteer Bob Slater, himself a UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital employee, helps Wellness Coordinator Ann Marie Smith unload food items and personal products collected by the hospital and its outpatient practice locations to support the Norwich food pantry. (Submitted Photo)

NORWICH – On Friday, AnnMarie Smith loaded the back of her vehicle with boxes and bags of canned goods, laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste and more. She wasn’t heading home, but rather to make a special delivery to Chenango County’s largest food pantry.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the need and use of food pantries has increased,” explained Smith, Wellness Coordinator at UHS Primary Care Norwich.

Recognizing that need, Smith coordinated a food and personal care product drive at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and its outpatient office locations. Her colleagues jumped to support the effort, and by noon on the first day of the drive, the collection bins were already overflowing. By Friday, they had collected a large volume of items.

According to Smith, the highlight of the drive was delivering the items collected to Roots & Wings.