Posts Tagged ‘Food for fines’

December is the Chickasha Public Library’s 21^st annual Food for Fines month, when overdue library fines may be paid with a donation of non-perishable food.

“The donations will be given to the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry,” said Lillie Huckaby, Library Director. “Even if you do not owe a fine, please come to the Library and make a donation. Together, we can bring in more food than ever before to help our neighbors this holiday season.”

According to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, 6,900 people in Grady County live with hunger, including 2,550 children who are food insecure. The donations from the Food for Fines food drive will be given to the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry, located at the First Presbyterian Church.

The value of the donated food does not have to equal the amount of the fine; any donation covers any fine.

“In addition to much-needed food, many overdue books also return home to the library during Food for Fines, usually about 100 of them,” Huckaby said. “Not having to repurchase popular titles means the Library can purchase more new books. This also gives patrons who have accrued fines a way to make a fresh start and be able to check out books again. ” If a book has been lost, the overdue fine will be waived, however, the replacement cost of the book must be paid.

The Food for Fines food drive will run through December 31^st.  For more details, call the Chickasha Public Library at 222-6075.