New Program Lets You Pay Off Library Fines With Food

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you have an overdue book at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, you have a chance to pay your penalty with food. It's a unique program that helps the hungry.

Ron Matz has more on "Food For Fines."

The Maryland food Bank is a busy place before the holidays but a new year brings change.

"Right now we are looking for canned protein: canned tuna, peanut butter, canned chicken, canned vegetables and fruit, whole grains and pasta. Really any healthy items you would feed your own family and peanut butter is very popular," Warner said. "Despite the fact that Maryland is one of the wealthiest states in the nation, there are about 757,000 Marylanders who are food-insecure, meaning they don't have regular access to food. That's about one in eight individuals who don't necessarily know where their next meal is coming from."

So the Pratt Library is stepping in. Food For Fines allows people who owe the library money to pay with food: $1 off for each can.

"This is the third year and it's going strong. We started two days ago. For the whole month of January, anybody can bring a food item to any Pratt location across the city and one food item means a dollar off your fine; five items, five bucks," said Roswell Encina, Pratt Library. "There's no limit. From one can to 10 cans to a case or a truckload, we're welcoming it. Even if you don't have a fine, you can bring a donation."

Got fines? Let's talk. It's the third year for this unique partnership.

"Food For Fines is a program that we've been doing for three years now. It's a fantastic partnership, in part because it comes right after the holidays. We receive a lot of contributions during the holidays, which are greatly appreciated, but that tends to decrease in January," said Joanna Warner, Maryland Food Bank.

Last year, the Pratt Library collected nearly 11,000 pounds of food for the Maryland Food Bank. That's the equivalent of about 9,000 meals.

"We collected nearly 11,000 pounds of food last year so that means a lot of Maryland families were helped," Encina said. "It can stop people from coming to the library, so this is why we do this. It helps our neighbors, it helps the Maryland Food Bank, but it also helps our patrons. Some of them don't want to bring their kids over because they owe $10 or $20 so if we can help them alleviate these fines, we'll bring these kids back into the library."

This is the third year for the Food For Fines program, which continues at all Pratt Library branches through January 31.