Food For Fines Drive Begins Monday At Fountaindale Public Library

The solution to helping pay off those overdue library fines paid off could be found in the kitchen pantry.

In connection with National Library Week, will begin its annual Food For Fines Drive Monday to benefit the DuPage Township Food Pantry. The drive will end Saturday, April 14.

"The Food For Fines programs gives back to the community," said Theresa Hildebrand, circulation manager at Fountaindale. "Residents are able to help each other out."

Patrons can bring in canned or non-perishable food items and have their overdue fines waived. Participants are asked to give donations that have not passed the expiration date and are equivalent to their fines. The program does not apply to lost or credit items.

About 1,500 items were donated during last year’s Food For Fines drive, said Chrissy Little, communications manager at Fountaindale.

“April and May are typically a pretty slow time for the (DuPage Township Food Pantry) so this is a great time of year to be donating to the food bank,” she said. “Next week is also Amnesty Week, which means that patrons can return any items that are currently late and return them with no late fees.”

For more information about National Library Week activities at Fountaindale, visit www.fountaindale.org.