For several years, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) has hosted a “Food for Fines” drive each fall as a way of facilitating food donations to our partner organization, Food for Others, which offers library cardholders a reduction on their fines.
As of Jan. 1, FCPL no longer charges overdue fines on most materials. To continue its partnership with Food for Others, FCPL is now hosting “Read and Feed” in April. Those who wish to give may simply drop off donations at any FCPL branch during its regular hours throughout the month of April.
Most needed items include:
- Oil
- Cereal
- Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb.
- Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz.
- Rice, 16 oz. packages
- Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
- Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz.
- Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Pasta
- Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz.
- New or clean reusable grocery bags
- Can openers
Food for Others is unable to accept donations of:
Items that are more than three years expired, opened items, food that is not labeled, homemade items, cooked food, or toiletries.