Local libraries will offer North Texans a chance to "Close the Book on Hunger" July 7-21

With a North Texas economy that appears to be bucking the national downward trend, it’s hard to imagine that local children are going hungry. But at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, that situation is all too real, particularly during the summer months when children who are accustomed to receiving free or reduced-price school meals are going without.

Compounding the problem is the fact that illiteracy rates in the region are increasing, preventing many hard-working families from rising above their current hardships. Lacking the ability to read and write, many of the working poor will continue to struggle daily to put enough food on the table to feed their families, because they are unable to obtain higher paying jobs requiring further education.

Two local organizations that deal with the results of hunger and illiteracy are partnering to “Close the Book on Hunger” with a community-wide food donation and fundraising campaign. A cooperative endeavor of the North Texas Regional Library System, Inc. (NTRLS), and the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), the campaign will kick off July 7. Chesapeake Energy is proud to be a major sponsor of this worthy cause.

Food collection bins will be placed in the lobbies of participating Tarrant County libraries July 7-21, allowing residents to drop off food bank donations. Funding received from sponsorships of the campaign will be given to local public libraries through the Libraries for Literacy program and used for literacy instruction classes for English as a Second Language for adults and their families.

In explaining how this unique partnership was formed, NTRLS Executive Director Adam Wright said that his organization’s board of directors “saw an increasing need to help the illiteracy issues in Tarrant County and wanted to help the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which receives fewer food donations during the summer months.” Describing the effort as “a win-win for all involved,” Wright said that his board was able to further their “mission of assisting our libraries serve their communities, while the food bank will receive needed donations….”

Chesapeake is pleased to play a role in projects such as “Close the Book on Hunger” which have such far-reaching effects in building stronger, healthier communities. It is a proud moment when North Texans, by bringing canned, dry goods or monetary donations, can help their fellow citizens make a better life.

Perhaps TAFB Executive Director Bo Soderbergh said it best in his organization’s summer newsletter: “…Thanks to your compassion, our neighbors in need have hope. You’re impacting the lives of men, women and children in our community every day … you’re making a difference….”