Fairfax County Library Kicks Off 'Read And Feed' Donation Drive

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Library is no longer hosting a “Food for Fines” drive now that it doesn't charge overdue fines on most materials.

In its place, FCPL is hosting a “Read and Feed” drive in partnership with nonprofit Food for Others throughout the month of April.

The public can drop off donations at any county library branch in April, and all the donations will go to community members in need across Fairfax County. Check with library staffer members at the circulation or information desk inside your local FCPL branch to find out where to drop off donations.

While supplies last, reusable tote bags sponsored by the Fairfax Library Foundation will be given out to people who donate food at the library branches.

Food for Others, based in Fairfax, said its most-needed items include:

• Oil
• Cereal
• Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced; 4 oz. to 1 lb.)
• Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood; 2 oz. to 15 oz.)
• Rice (16 oz. packages)
• Spaghetti sauce (14 oz. to 1 lb.; ideally in cans instead of glass)
• Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup; 11 oz. to 20 oz.)
• Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto)
• Pasta
• Fruit juice (100-percent juice; 32 oz. to 64 oz.)
• New or clean reusable grocery bags
• Can openers

Food for Others does not accept donations of items that are more than three years expired, opened items, food that is not labeled, homemade items, cooked food, or toiletries.

Effective Jan. 1, FCPL stopped charging overdue fines for most overdue materials, joining other jurisdictions in the D.C. area in an effort to maintain equity. The FCPL Board of Trustees unanimously approved the policy in December.

The "Food for Fines" program allowed library customers to reduce their fines while providing food donations that helped people in Fairfax County.