Concord Free Public Library will partner with Concord’s Open Table community supper and food pantry services to offer a week-long Food for Fines Program. This program enables patrons to eliminate their overdue fines while supporting community members in need. Fines will be waived in exchange for food donations delivered to the circulation desk at either the Main Library or the Fowler Branch. According to Open Table President, Jeanine Calabria, “Open Table is so appreciative of the Concord Free Public Library’s ‘Food for Fines’ program. Collecting high quality food to be distributed at our panties and building awareness of the food insecurity need in our own community is extremely valuable. We certainly do not wish for overdue books, but we love that you can turn them into a win-win for all.”
Participation in the Food for Fines Program is simple. For each non-perishable item donated, the library will waive $1.00 in overdue fines. It is important that all donations are sealed and neither expired nor dented. Donations will be applied to overdue fees only and cannot be accepted as payment for lost or damaged items.
Open Table offers the following suggestions based on identified needs: Cereal, soup, stew or chili, spaghetti sauce, canned meats, pasta, rice, grains and vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly or jam, granola bars, cooking oil (small containers), coffee, tea, baking supplies, fruit juice, paper supplies and personal hygiene items.
