Have you racked up a bit of library debt because of overdue materials at your Nashville Public Library (NPL) branch? You can pay off your debt in the form of a good deed for the area’s hungry during NPL’s Food for Fines partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
From Jan. 9 – 17, you can donate canned or packaged, non-perishable food items. Each item earns you $1 in “fine forgiveness.” The donated items apply to overdue fees, replacement costs for lots items or library cards, and past-due bills that have been sent to collection agencies.
NPL hosts the food drive every January, and last year, the program collected 48,454 pounds of food that provided 38,000 meals to Davidson County families.
Before you go, here are a few Food for Fines tips to keep in mind:
• Second Harvest needs protein-rich food — peanut butter, canned beans and canned chicken or tuna.
• Bring donation and your NPL card to the circulation desk at any of the library system’s 21 locations. No drop-offs.
• No glass containers or opened/expired items.
• Fine forgiveness does not apply to future overdue fines or to out-of-county registrations.
For more info about Food for Fines, click HERE.
