Mid-Continent Public Library Trades Food for Fines

Food for Fines for Mid-Continent Public Library — Image via Mid-Continent Public Library

Mid-Continent Public Library has announced the return of its biannual Food for Fines program, allowing customers to donate nonperishable food items to pay off overdue fines or replacement card charges. The initiative will run from Monday, May 1, through Sunday, May 7, giving library customers the opportunity to make amends for overdue books and help those in need at the same time.

Donations of nonperishable food items, such as canned food, pasta, boxed meals, peanut butter, and cereal, are encouraged, and each item will be counted as $1 towards a customer’s fines and fees, up to $10. The program is not only available for those with overdue books or fines but also for customers who wish to donate and help “pay it forward.”

MCPL offers the Food for Fines program twice a year—leading into the summer to encourage active participation in the annual Summer Library Program, and in the fall to alleviate any barriers for students seeking resources at the Library.

The collected food items will be donated to charitable organizations across the Kansas City metro after the program concludes. The library has collected more than 165,000 items for local charities through the Food for Fines program to date.

The Excelsior Springs Branch will donate all donations made to the Good Samaritan Center of Excelsior Springs. It’s worth noting that donations must not be expired, damaged, open, non-nutritious, or in a glass, plastic, or cardboard drink container.

For more information about the Food for Fines program, customers can visit mymcpl.org/FoodForFines.