What Catholic Charities of Chenango County Offers in Norwich and Beyond,
Catholic Charities of Chenango County (CCofCC) has served residents of Chenango County since 1970. It operates as one of six regional centers within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, but serves people of all faiths and backgrounds — religious affiliation is never a requirement. The agency is based in Norwich, the county seat, and describes its approach as helping people help themselves: connecting individuals and families to what they need rather than creating dependency on the organization.
This page is a plain-English guide to what CCofCC actually offers, because the organization runs several distinct programs that aren't obvious from the name, including one of the most comprehensive emergency service and self-help centers in the region. The main office is at 3 O'Hara Drive, Norwich, NY 13815. The phone is (607) 334-8244 and website is https://ccofcc.com/. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a daily closure from noon to 1:30 p.m.
How CCofCC serves a rural county differently
Chenango County is rural in the specific sense that matters for social services: distances are long, transportation is limited, and the population is spread across small towns and agricultural communities with few nearby alternatives when a program doesn't exist locally. CCofCC's has noted publicly that because of this, the agency operates differently from Catholic Charities offices in larger, more urban parts of the diocese.
It has built a self-help center model rather than a traditional case management model, offers outreach and home visit options across programs, and has cultivated partnerships — including with Colgate University and state agencies — to extend reach without requiring residents to travel. Roughly 20% of Chenango County's population accesses CCofCC services in a given year.
Roots & Wings — Emergency Services and Self-Help Center
Roots & Wings is the program most Chenango County residents seeking immediate help will interact with first, and it is the clearest expression of how CCofCC approaches community service. Located at 105 Leilani Lane in the town of Norwich — a purpose-built facility completed in 2021 using grant funding — it operates as a self-help center designed to address multiple needs in one place.
The facility houses the largest food pantry in Chenango County. The thrift store is usually open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The food pantry generally operates Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with all services closed daily from noon to 1:30 p.m. Contact Roots & Wings directly at (607) 336-7897.
Beyond food, Roots & Wings provides emergency housing assistance — help with rent and utility payments for households facing crisis — along with prescription medication assistance for individuals who cannot afford necessary medications.
Staff can also help with benefits including SNAP applications and health insurance enrollment, making it possible to address multiple needs without navigating separate agencies. Disaster relief services are also available through this location. The goal of the self-help model is to give people access to what they need and the knowledge to access it again independently, rather than simply handing resources over without context.
Colgate University students regularly volunteer at Roots & Wings, a partnership that reflects Chenango County's mix of rural community need and nearby institutional resources.
Counseling Services
CCofCC's counseling program provides professional therapy and mental health services on a sliding scale fee basis, making it accessible to people who wouldn't otherwise afford private counseling. Licensed staff offer confidential sessions for individuals — children, adolescents, and adults — as well as couples and family counseling. The program addresses anxiety, depression, stress, family conflict, social isolation, trauma, and academic or behavioral concerns in young people. Services are provided from the main Norwich office, with some outreach capacity for home visits and school-based services. Call (607) 334-8244 to schedule an intake.
Developmental Disability Programs
CCofCC provides programs and support services for individuals with developmental disabilities in Chenango County. In a rural county with limited specialized providers, this fills a gap that many families navigating these needs would otherwise struggle to find locally. The specific services available are best confirmed directly with the agency, as programming in this area evolves with available funding and county coordination. There are other options for disabled people as well - see the New York State disability assistance page.
Health Home Care Coordination
For Medicaid recipients in Chenango County dealing with complex health and behavioral health needs, CCofCC provides Health Home Care Coordination. A dedicated care manager works with each client to navigate both the healthcare system and the social services landscape — helping with appointments, benefits access, housing stability, and other needs that affect health outcomes. Care coordination is particularly valuable for people managing multiple chronic conditions or who have struggled to stay connected to services on their own. Referrals can come from providers or directly from individuals by calling (607) 334-8244.
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