Tapin and Doorways

Today's Guest Speakers were Joyce Marabello, representing Tap-In, and Larry Hindle, representing Doorways.  

TAPIN was started 32 years ago, and services East Providence, Barrington, Warren and Bristol.  Clients need to provide a current address and photo ID, and can come once per month for food.  Four Town Farms and McCoy Garden provide food.  Joyce also mentioned that they take donations from private gardens also.  She said Thanksgiving baskets were just given out and 269 bags (68% of the total baskets) were given to East Providence residents.

TAPIN also provides household goods and a limited amount of furniture.  

Joyce mentioned that they provide rides, free of charge, to doctor appointments.  She said they are in dire need of drivers, and asks if anyone is looking for volunteer work, to contact her.

For further information, visit tapinri.com

Doorways was founded 15 years ago, and is located in the North School in Seekonk.  Larry Hindle has been on the board for approximately 10-12 years.  Unlike TAPIN, Doorways is food only.  The food comes from the food bank and food drives from the Post Office, schools, boy scouts, churches, etc.  Larry said a yearly mailing brings in an enourmous amount of money that provides most of the funding.

Doorways is made up of over 100 volunteers, who work in teams, and work once every 8 weeks.  They help to stock the shelves, gather the food, and provide operational support to the food pantry.  Clients are residents of Seekonk who apply through the Seekonk Human Services Department.  Once they are deemed eligible, they may get food weekly.  Shopping carts are provided, and the volunteers assist the clients in choosing the food.  There are also volunteers who deliver food to shut-ins on a weekly basis.

For more information, visit doorwaysseekonk.wordpress.com