Library collects 18,614 food items in lieu of fines

Library Director Debra Rhodes Gibson announced to local Historic City News reporters that more than 18,000 food items were collected during the recent Food for Fines program.

The St. Johns County Public Library System has sponsored Food for Fines for the past three years. The program allowed patrons to bring one non-perishable food item to the library between November 8th and December 22nd in exchange for each dollar in overdue fines.

All food collected was taken to the food pantry at the County Health and Human Services Department and distributed to families in need.

The grand total of 18,614 donated food items was a 48% increase over the previous year.

Once again, the program was a success for both the library and the families in the community who ultimately received the food.

Gibson extends appreciation to library patrons who helped make Food for Fines so successful. “We are thrilled to have partnered with our citizens to provide meals to those in our community who need it most, especially during the holiday season,” she said. “On behalf of the entire library staff, I thank each citizen who contributed a food item, as well as the County Commission for their support of this program.”

Ven Lucas Thomas, Director of the Health and Human Services Department, is thankful to the library and the community for their generous contributions. “We have given out tons of food and I estimate we have enough left for the next few months,” she said. “Food for Fines has been an enormous help to our community.”