'Food For Fines' Program Tops Last Year's Total

The St. Louis Public Library and the St. Louis Area Foodbank are proud to announce that their partnership in the fifth annual “Food for Fines” program was another major success. Throughout July, adult readers brought in canned and dry goods of all types—from baby formula to stew to vegetables and pasta—to St. Louis Public Library locations around the city. For every item brought in, $1 was subtracted from overdue fines. Although some patrons owed as little as five cents, they still made donations.

Donation barrels filled rapidly (and repeatedly) at many locations. Library patrons surpassed last year’s tally by donating a whopping 14,513 pounds (more than 7 TONS!) of food. According to St. Louis Area Foodbank officials, the contributions will provide 11,847 meals for families and individuals in need throughout our area.

The “Food for Fines” program provides a meaningful way for St. Louisans to help their community. Patrons at all Library locations participated. As in previous years, many Library users who did not owe fines, but who still wanted to help, donated items. St. Louisans have a reputation of responding with overwhelming generosity when neighbors need a hand, and “Food for Fines” is no exception.

The Library is proud to have partnered again with the St. Louis Area Foodbank in this important annual initiative. The Foodbank is a nonprofit food distribution center for organizations that feed the hungry in 14 eastern Missouri and 12 southwestern Illinois counties.

Thank you, St. Louis, for continuing to make “Foods for Fines” a success.

For more information, call the Library’s Customer Service Department at 314-539-0342.

St. Louis Public Library

City of St. Louis