To the editor:

The pantry shelves are full again in TAPIN’s food pantry! TAPIN received over 5,200 pounds of non-perishable food as part of the letter carrier union’s 27th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which took place on Saturday, May 11, in Barrington.

TAPIN wishes to thank all the Barrington letter carriers for their tireless efforts and enthusiastic support of the cause. Not only did they publicize the drive and then freight Barrington residents’ donations from their homes to TAPIN’s headquarters at the Barrington Library throughout the day, but the letter carriers also helped unload the food. Keeping the letter carriers and volunteers refreshed was iced tea that had been generously donated by Starbucks Coffee on County Road.

TAPIN would also like to thank the Barrington community for your generosity. The donations of non-perishable food will enable us to continue addressing the problems of hunger and food insecurity in the East Bay. These challenges intensify during the summer months, when donations collected during the winter holiday season run low and children are home during the day. Along with Barrington residents, Barrington’s schools, houses of worship, and businesses supported the drive by helping us recruit volunteers and get the word out. Local media, including the Barrington Times and Water’s Edge, generously offered free space in their pages for publicity. Shaw’s generously allowed TAPIN to table at their County Road location the day before the drive. Lastly, we would like to thank all our devoted volunteers along with the community members who helped weigh, sort, and shelve the many bags of food we received.

Much work remains to be done if we are to solve the problem of food insecurity in the East Bay. Approximately 1 in 8 Rhode Islanders experience food insecurity, which is the condition of not knowing where one’s next meal will come from. But your efforts show that, when we work together, we can, indeed, make a difference.

Kate Notley, president

Jo Rodehorst, president elect

TAPIN Food Drive Committee

Barrington