The Sonoma County Library is once again partnering with local food banks to help our communities this holiday season. The annual Food for Fines program allows library patrons to return overdue library materials and “pay off” their fines by donating food to those in need.
The donation of one unit of food will erase all fines from past due items for one library account (food donations cannot be applied to lost or damaged library items). In previous years, this program has resulted in thousands of pounds of donated food and thousands of dollars in erased fines.
This year’s program begins Nov. 12 and runs through Dec. 29. Food donation barrels will be at all Sonoma County Library branches.
According to the library’s food bank partners, the most needed non-perishable food items are tuna and canned meat, peanut butter, no-sugar-added canned fruit, low-sodium canned soups and stews, rice, beans, low-sodium canned vegetables, pasta and sauce.
Additionally, food banks recommend the following guidelines when donating food: No glass containers, check that items are within the “use before” date; all items must be unopened; homemade or home-canned food cannot be accepted.
There are four local hunger relief organizations partnering with the library this year: The Redwood Empire Food Bank; the Healdsburg Shared Ministries Food Pantry; the Sebastopol Inter-Church Food Pantry; and Friends in Sonoma Helping.
“Sonoma County library patrons donated thousands of pounds of non-perishable food to the Redwood Empire Food Bank last winter through the Food for Fines program, helping to stock our warehouse shelves during a time of year when our neighbors frequently face hard choices and a heightened need for food assistance. We are deeply grateful for our year-round partnership with the Sonoma County Library and inspired by this creative initiative to further nourish our community,” said Jean Larson, Redwood Empire Food Bank Development Officer.
-Submitted by Ray Holley
