You can pay off your fines for overdue library books with donations to the Community Food Bank this week.
"It's a positive way for people to give back to the community and take care of fines at the same time," said library services manager Jere Voigt.
Here are three things you need to know about the Food for Fines program.
1. It's only this week.
Today through Saturday, you can donate one food item to erase $1 in overdue book fines at the Pima County Public Library, up to $10. "And then people donate even on top of that," Voigt said.
Last year, 11,422 food items were collected. That's more than double the items collected when the program began six years ago.
2. The need is great.
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The Community Food Bank is helping around 225,000 people a month these days, CEO Bill Carnegie said.
"Everything that's collected is going to go to local families in need," he said.
The Food Bank really needs peanut butter. Other needed items are canned vegetables, cereal, and boxed macaroni and cheese.
Please don't donate glass jars or anything that's been opened or is expired.
3. Librarians do their part.
In conjunction with the Food for Fines program, the library staff has its own fundraiser auction, which last year raised $6,000. The Food Bank turned that into $57,000 worth of food distributed to people in need.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
