Marshall Public Library “Food for Fines” starts Wednesday

Food will help you receive a bit of forgiveness from the Marshall Public Library.

The library’s annual “Food for Fines” food drive starts November 1 and each nonperishable food item you donate will compensate for one dollar of your fine.

“‘Food for Fines helps the library get back materials that otherwise might never have been returned and help out our neighbors in need at the same time,” said Kristy Lyon, Lead Reference Librarian with the Marshall Public Library. “For example, if you have $10 in fines, bring in 10 cans of food when you return the item and all is forgiven.”

Lyon said the program does not include replacement fees for lost or damaged materials, collection agency fees, card replacement fees or future overdue fines.

The library cannot accept home-canned items, opened foods or foods past their expiration dates. The library asks you donate only shelf-stable foods:

canned fruits vegetables meats soups boxed meals pasta peanut butter jelly

The drive will wrap up on December 16.