“Food for Fines” starts November 1 at Marshall Public Library
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The following is a news release from the city of Pocatello.
POCATELLO — Food will help you receive a bit of forgiveness from the Marshall Public Library starting next month.
November 1 will mark the start of the library’s annual “Food for Fines” food drive. The annual event lets patrons have their fines forgiven by a dollar for every nonperishable food item they donate.
“’Food for Fines’ helps the library get back materials that otherwise might never have been returned and help out our neighbors in need at the same time,” said Kristy Lyon, Lead Reference Librarian with the Marshall Public Library. “For example, if you have $10 in fines, bring in 10 cans of food when you return the item and all is forgiven.”
According to The Idaho Foodbank’s website, “more than 230,000 Idahoans, including more than 75,000 children, are food insecure, meaning they live at risk of hunger.”
2017 sees the program extended into December with “Food for Fines” wrapping up December 16.
Since its beginning in 2014, “Food for Fines” has been able to collect 2,093 items.
The library asks that donations include only shelf-stable foods such as canned fruits, vegetables, meats, soups, boxed meals, pasta, peanut butter, and jelly. The library cannot accept home-canned items, opened foods, or foods past their expiration dates.
The program does not include replacement fees for lost or damaged materials, collection agency fees, card replacement fees, or future overdue fines.
For more information on the programs and services available at the Marshall Public Library, visit marshallpl.org.