Patrons in May can pay overdue fines with canned food
Food for Fines
Beginning May 2-31, 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 “use by” date that’s donated pays up to $1 in overdue fines.
Dyana Costello Banks, manager of the Rabun County Public Library, said donations can only be used toward overdue fines, not for payment of copies, lost or damaged materials.
She added that anyone can drop off food, even if they don’t have fines.
“All donations will be given to our local food bank,” Banks said. “We feel like it’s another avenue to serve the community,” Banks said about why the library decided to participate.
The library held the Food for Fines program in December, and Banks said it was very successful. James Brim, manager of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia Mountain Branch, said that 683 pounds of food were donated from the event in December.
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.
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.