The Lake County Library System forgave $2,633.92 in overdue library fines in exchange for 2,446 food and hygiene items during its annual Food for Fines drive.
Food for Fines, held May 19 – June 1 of this year, has become an annual tradition. During this time, unexpired dry and canned food, as well as hygiene products, are traded in at the 15 Lake County Library System libraries to pay for overdue fines.
“The drive is a great benefit to our patrons, libraries, and community,” said George Taylor, Director of the Lake County Library System. “We’ve received an outpouring of support to help get essential items to those in need. Clearing library fines also gives everyone a chance to join our summer reading competitions and earn prizes. This is especially true for kids. This year, hundreds of children’s fines were waived, giving them a chance to explore everything the library has to offer.”
Donated items were sent to the following nonprofit organizations: Faith Neighborhood Center in Groveland, First Baptist Church of Astor, First Baptist Church of Sorrento, Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park, Howey in-the-Hills Community Church, Lady Lake Food Pantry, Lake Cares Food Pantry, Leesburg Food Bank, New Beginnings of Central Florida in Clermont, South Lake Community Ministries’ “Buses ‘N Backpacks” program, and Union Congregational Church in Tavares. Donations were also delivered to veterans in Umatilla.
The Lake County Library System is dedicated to promoting lifelong learning through a cooperative countywide library system, engaging the community by offering physical and digital content, and offering services critical to education, research and workforce training. For more information about the Lake County Library System or to find out about future programs, call or visit your local library, or go tohttp://mylakelibrary.org, www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLLibrary or https://twitter.com/lakelibrary.
