Mid-Continent Public Library’s biannual Food for Fines program will return Sept. 8 to 14, once again providing customers with the opportunity to pay off fines and fees with donations of nonperishable food items, according to a library system press release.

Branches collect the donations, and at the end of the week, they are given to local food pantries across the metro. For more than a decade, MCPL has offered the program, which has collected more than 235,000 items for local charities.

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.

Library patrons are also welcome to donate to support local food banks even if they don’t have fines or fees.

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).

The Clay County libraries and recipients are: Antioch library branch, Feed Northland Kids; Claycomo library branch, Claycomo Citizen’s Alliance; Kearney library branch, Kearney Food Pantry; North Oak library branch, Barry Christian Church Food Pantry; Smithville library branch, First Christian Church Food Pantry; Withers library branch, Grace Episcopal Food Pantry; and Woodneath Library Center, Kansas City Church.

For more information about Food for Fines, visit mymcpl.org/FoodForFines.