The spirit of giving shone brightly in St. Johns County this holiday season as the Public Library's Food for Fines program successfully gathered over 2,500 nonperishable food items for local families in need, reports indicate. The initiative, which offers patrons a chance to reduce their library fines by donating food, continued to demonstrate the benevolence of the community towards St. Johns County's Health and Human Services Food Pantry.
Indeed, Tracy Dillon, the social services manager for St. Johns County, communicated the impact of these contributions, remarking, "It's a real benefit to the community we serve to have the Food for Fines program," and due to the generosity of library patrons, their food supplies are sustained and can support the operation of their food pantry for nearly an entire year, according to a statement obtained by St. Johns County's website.
Over the years, Food for Fines has become a hallmark of community spirit not only among those with overdue books but also among patrons without fines, illustrating an enduring collective effort to address local hunger. "Since we first implemented Food for Fines in 2009, the community has really gotten behind the program. It’s even supported by our patrons who don’t have fines," shared Debra Rhodes Gibson on the St. Johns County website, the St. Johns County Library System Director, in an additional insight provided to the county's website.
The program's design, which allows a $2 forgiveness for each food item donated, not only aids those in need but also eases the financial burdens of library patrons. Health and Human Services, benefiting from such programs, continues to deliver essential services to approximately 10,000 clients throughout St. Johns County.
