Can Your Fines food drive returns to Mentor Library

Help those in need and have your library fines forgiven.

The Can Your Fines food drive is returning to Mentor Public Library and, once again, library patrons can donate food in exchange for forgiveness of their fines.

The food drive will run from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31 and people can donate at any of Mentor Public Library’s branches.

The donated food will go to local food pantries at St. Gabriel and St. John Vianney. The pantries will, in turn, give it to families in need.

Each nonperishable food item that somebody donates will be worth up to a dollar off of the fines they owe. People can get up to five dollars in fines waived this way.

Patrons can only trade food for fines once during the Can Your Fines food drive. Those whose fines have gone to collections are not eligible to participate.

Last year, patrons donated hundreds of pounds of food to their neighbors in need. We hope to collect even more this year.