TAP-IN Volunteers Preparing Food Baskets

Volunteers for TAP-IN (Touch a Person in Need) in Barrington will be giving out the nonprofit's Thanksgiving food baskets to hundreds of its East Bay clients again this weekend, Nov. 23.

If you need some help feeding your family on Thanksgiving, give TAP-IN a call at 247-1444. It also runs a food pantry year-round.

TAP-IN, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, puts together more than 400 food baskets with donations provided by supporters and food from the RI Community Food Bank. This year, said Kate Notley, a Thanksgiving distribution co-chair, each basket will contain:

• Instant mashed potatoes
• Green beans
• Corn
• Fruit (can)
• Stuffing
• Sweet potatoes or yams (can)
• Cranberry sauce
• Can or jar of gravy
• Brownie  mix
• Coffee for one pot
• Disposable turkey pan

“Each household will also get a gift card to help them purchase their turkey and other fresh items, and we welcome monetary donations to help cover the cost of those gift cards,” said Notley. 

TAP-IN’s regular hours are 9 am to noon Monday through Friday. It is located in the lower level of the Barrington library building off of County Road.

Last year, TAP-IN served more than 17,000 people in the Barrington, Warren, Bristol and East Providence, or more than 1,400 a month, according to Lynn Moran, a co-president.

TAP-IN gets most of its food from the RI Community Food Bank. But it got fresh produce this year from local farmers and churches as well. It is part of the Basic Needs Network, which operates out of St. Michael’s Church in Bristol. 

The only criteria people need to take advantage of TAP-IN is a photo ID showing that they are an East Bay resident.

Maintaining the organization relies entirely on volunteers, said Moran. And donations from supporters.