ACU's Brown Library joins in effort

Beginning December 1 and continuing throughout the entire month, all Abilene Library Consortium libraries, ACU's Brown Library, will forgive $1 in overdue fines for each can, box or bag of nonperishable food item donated.

"Food for Fines" is a program forgiving overdue library fines, while supplying much-needed food items to Abilene's hungry. ACU Brown Library, APL Libraries, HSU Richardson Library and McMurry Jay-Rolins Library are all accepting food to cancel fines.

"The ACU Library wanted to join the Abilene Library community to collect food for the hungry and to enable people to pay their fines by donating one can for each dollar of their fines," said Karen Hendrick, head of public services at Brown Library. "Last year, we collected approximately 214 pounds of food at ACU's library."

Since 1999, Abilene library patrons have donated more than 40,000 pounds of canned and boxed food to people in need. "Food for Fines" benefits the Food Bank of West Central Texas and United Methodist Food Pantry. The Food Bank of West Central Texas distributes nearly three million pounds of grocery products to those in need every year. The food bank serves 150 non-profit agencies in Abilene and the surrounding 13 counties, saving these agencies millions of dollars in food costs annually.

Only nonperishable food items will be accepted. Suggested items are rice, beans, tuna, jars of peanut butter and boxes of macaroni and cheese.

Donated food items will only pay for overdue fines. Charges for lost or damaged books still have to be paid for with cash or checks. While library staff appreciates all food donations, they can only accept commercially packaged items that are undamaged and that have not exceeded their expiration date. No dented, dinged or previously opened food items, government commodity items or home-canned items. All other nonperishable food items are welcome.

"We hope to collect more food this year for the Food Bank of West Central Texas," said Hendrick.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office .

Recent news releases