NORWICH – Representatives from the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Catholic Charities, Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County and The Place received “sizable donations” Tuesday from American Legion Post #189, according to Commander Brian Joy.

“We normally donate to these organizations annually and our goal is to help out in the community in any way we can,” said Joy.

United Church of Christ Pastor Joe Connolly, who also acts as president for the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Food Pantry program, said that, due to the strictly volunteer status of the program’s staff, “every dollar the Food Pantry receives goes directly toward the purchase of the food we give out to those in need in the Norwich area.”

Gary Quarella, director of community outreach programs for Catholic Charities, said the donation will be utilized in conjunction with the organization’s Roots and Wings program toward the purchase of foodstuffs, its clothing bank, household goods, literacy tools and housing and utility assistance programs.

“These donations are huge for our program,” said Quarella, who added Catholic Charities and Roots and Wings “served over 11,000 households last year with food, clothing and the other services we provide.”

While the Food Pantry and Roots and Wings utilize donations such as these primarily for food, materials and community programs, organizations like The Place and Hospice of Chenango often times rely on these donations to stay afloat.