By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
Administrators of the Monmouth County Library System will waive fines owed by by library patrons who donate food during National Library Week, April 10-16.
The library system is holding a food drive that will run through April. Donations will be sent to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Food donations that are collected during National Library Week will not cover the cost of lost or damaged materials, according to library administrators.
“We feel this program is great for us,” program director Donna Mansfield said. “It returns materials we may not have gotten back otherwise or considered lost. Our patrons like the ability to have their fines waived. Most of us like the opportunity to help our neighbors. We also receive donations of food from people who do not owe fines and we think that is wonderful.”
Suggested food donations include canned soup, dry soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, beans, tomato sauce, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna, canned meat, powdered milk, hot cereal, cold cereal, baby foods, baby formula, coffee, tea, canned fruit, fruit juices and crackers.
The following items will not be accepted: home-canned items, canned food that is past its expiration date, dented or damaged cans, cans with a bar code that has been lined or scratched through, food in a glass container, items that have been separated from multipacks, sample size items and perishable food.
Food donations may be made at the Monmouth County libraries in Allentown, Colts Neck, Howell, Marlboro and Manalapan.