Library Reads Summer Need for Food

The Barrington library food drive for TAP-IN is back.

The library is repeating the food drive that has collected food donations in August for several years -- a particularly light month for donations to TAP-IN, the Barrington based program that serves East Bay towns.

The dropoff in donations comes at the same time that there is an increase in people seeking some help to feed their families. Children are not in school, for instance, where they usually get a lunch and often a breakfast.

Of special interest are “the big five” of donations -- canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, chicken noodle soup and canned beans, all sources of protein.

Clearly marked boxes for food donationss can be found on the first and second floor of the library for the rest of this month.

The shelves are often bare soon after they’re stocked each Thursday morning, when a truck arrives from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

Any donation to TAP-IN is appreciated, but the nonprofit can really use the Big 5 foods. Those items will be packaged with pasta, cereal, starch, and vegetables to help make up the food bags given to needier families.

You can also make donations directly to TAP-IN. The organization is open from 9 am to noon Monday through Friday. It is located in the lower level of the library building. The library’s hours are 9 am to 8 pm in the summer.

For more information about TAP-IN, got to the organization's website. For more information, contact the library director at 247-1920.