You don't have to look very hard to find the volunteer spirit in Barrington.

I'm still a newbie in town as editor of Barrington Patch. But over the last few weeks, as I have made my way around town to try to meet as many people as possible, one thing about Barrington has jumped out at me: the volunteer spirit here.

Want to build a new soccer field? How about a new playground? Or a skating rink on Legion Way? Or do you want to help people who are still suffering from the impact of the Great Recession -- with food, clothing, household goods?

You really don't have to look too hard to find volunteers ready to pitch in with donations of time, materials or financial support. Take the Tap-In program that calls the lower level of the public library its home.

I spent a few hours at Tap-In on Columbus Day as a volunteer myself during the sixth annual Great Day of Service sponsored by the nonprofit interfaith organization Beyond Our Walls. More than 700 people, many from Barrington, pitched in to help all types of organizations that day.

About a dozen volunteers like me joined Tap-In's regular volunteers to sweep floors and clean shelves and tidy up the food pantry and clothing closets and baby boutique and household goods rooms of the nonprofit. Our ages ranged from eighth-graders to grandparents like me. It was quite an experience.

I can see now why it hasn't been too hard to discover Barrington's volunteer spirit. In fact, I would like to make this column a showcase for volunteers.

Email me at william.rupp@patch.com with the name of someone you believe deserves to be given recognition in this community for their volunteerism. We'll take it from there.