Procrastinating readers can feed the hungry

The success of the Farmington Public Library’s “Food for Fines” programs has helped to put food on the table for area families since 1999. This year the library has set a goal of 1,250 cans of food to be donated by Dec. 30.

The program works where library patrons can pay off each dollar of an overdue book fine with one canned good. The canned good swap applies to overdue fines only and not lost book charges. Patrons may also use the library as a drop-off facility for canned goods even if they do not have a fine to pay.

Liz Perry, librarian, shared that the support of the program in the past is what led the staff to set this year’s goal.

“We exceeded our goal for last year, so we decided to set the goal of 1,250 cans. The food donated will be distributed to the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry at St. Joseph Catholic Church,” she said.

Perry added that if an individual is donating an item such as Ramen noodles, four packages would make up the dollar in fines.

The library is open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Monday and Friday, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday. They will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 and will reopen Dec. 27.

For more information on the “Food for Fines” program, contact the library at 756-5779.