CLAY COUNTY — Mid-Continent Public Library System’s Food for Fines program has returned for another year, starting Monday, Sept. 9 and running through Sunday, Sept. 16. The program allows library customers the opportunity to pay off fines and fees with donations of nonperishable food items, which benefit local charities.
“Branches collect the donations and at the end of the week, they are given to local food pantries across the metro. This is the 10th year MCPL has offered the program, and to date, the library has collected more than 210,000 items for local charities,” reads a library system statement about the program.
“For more than a decade, we’ve been stocking local food pantries with our Food for Fines program, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” said MCPL Excelsior Springs Branch Manager Stephen Chalmers. “It’s tremendously gratifying to see the outpouring of generosity within our communities and also to wipe so many customer accounts clean after they’ve had a busy summer of checking out items.”
MCPL offers the Food for Fines program twice a year — leading into the summer to encourage active participation in the annual summer reading program, and in the fall to alleviate any barriers for students seeking resources at the library, states the library release.
Customers with no fines or fees are also welcome and encouraged to donate. Suggested donations include boxed meals, canned food, peanut butter, cereal and pasta.
“Donations must not be expired, damaged, open or in a glass, plastic or cardboard drink container. Each donated food item will count as $1.50 toward a customer’s fines and fees, up to $30,” states the library system release.
Items collected at the Antioch branch benefit Feed Northland Kids while Kearney’s benefit the Kearney Food Pantry, Smithville’s benefits First Christian Church’s food pantry, Liberty’s Withers branch collection benefits the Grace Episcopal Church food pantry and the Woodneath Library Center near Liberty in Kansas City benefits Kansas City Church efforts.
For more details on library system programs, visit mymcpl.org.
