A NEW KIND OF LIBRARY RESOURCE IS HELPING PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN JUST BOOKS. IN THIS WEEK’S PROJECT COMMUNITY REPORT, THE BULLITT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY TURNED AN IDEA TO HELP NEIGHBORS IN NEED INTO A COUNTYWIDE EFFORT. THESE ARE ALL FROM DONATIONS THAT WE’VE GOTTEN INSIDE THE RESTROOMS AT THE BULLITT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTRAL BRANCH. YOU’LL FIND MORE THAN SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS. THIS IS ONE OF TWO COMMUNITY CARE CABINETS AT THE SHEPHERDSVILLE BRANCH. IT’S STOCKED WITH EVERYTHING FROM SHAMPOO TO SOCKS, ALL FREE FOR ANYONE IN NEED. WE FILL IT WITH WHATEVER KIND OF DONATIONS THAT WE GET. THAT KIND OF FIT A STANDARD OF. WE DON’T DO ANY PRODUCTS THAT HAVE ALCOHOL IN THEM AND LIKE MOUTHWASH AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, AND WE DON’T DO ANYTHING THAT’S USED OR OPENED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP SOMEBODY WITH HYGIENE OR COMFORT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE’LL PUT OUT. REFERENCE CLERK ALEX ALEXANDER HELPED LAUNCH THE PROJECT AFTER NOTICING A NEED AMONG LIBRARY VISITORS. PEOPLE ASKING FOR MORE THAN INFORMATION AND BOOKS. AS A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN, I GET ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN FOR ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS, AND A LOT OF THEM, I NOTICED, WERE IN NEED OF ITEMS LIKE HYGIENE ITEMS AND COMFORT ITEMS AND JUST REALLY ANYTHING TO HELP. WHAT BEGAN AS A FEW SIMPLE SUPPLIES HAS BECOME A COMMUNITY EFFORT, STOCKED ENTIRELY THROUGH DONATIONS FROM LIBRARY STAFF, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE PUBLIC. SOMETIMES I COME BACK HERE AND IT’S COMPLETELY EMPTY, AND I’M REALLY EXCITED THAT IT’S BEEN USED A LOT THE PREVIOUS DAY. OTHER TIMES I COME BACK HERE AND LIKE A FEW THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF EACH THING, SO WE DEFINITELY SEE A NEED FOR IT EVERY DAY. LIBRARY DIRECTOR TARA OHAGAN SAYS THE IDEA CAUGHT ON QUICKLY, AND NOW EVERY BULLITT COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCH HAS SOME FORM OF A COMMUNITY CARE CABINET OR BASKET. NOT ONLY IS IT FOR THE UNHOUSED, BUT ALSO WE CAN DO. IF YOU JUST COME IN FOR A JOB INTERVIEW AND YOU’RE IN A HURRY TO PRINT YOUR RESUME OUT AND YOU’RE LIKE, OH MAN, I FORGOT TO BRUSH MY TEETH, OR I FORGOT TO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. THEN WE HAVE THAT FOR YOU. WE CAN DO THAT QUICKLY. IF YOU’RE WITH YOUR CHILD AND YOU KNOW YOU DON’T HAVE A DIAPER OR YOU DON’T HAVE A WIPE. WE HAVE THAT FOR YOU. FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS. IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD THEM, THEY’RE HERE. IF YOU JUST FORGOT THEM, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE HERE FOR FREE. FROM TOOTHBRUSHES TO DIAPERS AND EVEN WINTER GLOVES, THE CABINETS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE. ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. DOESN’T MATTER WHO. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A LIBRARY CARD. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU AREN’T IMPOVERISHED. IT JUST IT JUST MATTERS THAT YOU NEED SOMETHING. ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN GET WHATEVER THEY WANT OUT OF THERE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. AND WITH WINTER ON THE WAY, THE BULLITT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF NEW COLD WEATHER ITEMS LIKE COATS, SOCKS, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE HAND WARMERS, ALONG WITH EVERYDAY HYGIENE ITEMS. DONATIONS MAY BE DROPPED OFF AT ANY BRANCH. THE HILLVIEW BRANCH, WHICH IS BEING RENOVATED RIGHT NOW, WILL SOON EXPAND THE EFF