Rabun County Library Food for Fines
During December, patrons of the Rabun County Public Library can pay overdue fines with canned food as part of the Food for Fines program.
Each canned or non-perishable food item with an unexpired “used-by” date that’s donated pays up to $1 in overdue fines.
“This will help them bring down their overdue fines,” said Dyana Costello Banks, manager of the Rabun County Public Library.
Banks said that the donations can only be used toward overdue fines, not for payment of copies, lost or damaged materials.
“I thought it would be a great program to have here locally,” Banks said. She said that the program has worked well at other libraries, such as the Mountain Regional Library System, and she wanted to try it in Rabun County.
“I think it’s important to give back to the community,” Banks said. All donations will be given to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
Donations can be brought into the library during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Banks said the library will happily accept donations from anyone, regardless of whether they have overdue fines.
“We will welcome as many donations as possible,” Banks said.
Most needed items at the Food Bank are peanut butter, soups, canned vegetables, chili, canned pasta, tuna, baked beans, canned chicken, cereal, beef stew, rice, pasta and pasta sauce, dried or canned beans.