NILES — Niles District Library patrons had a unique opportunity to pay back their overdue fines last week by donating food to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry.

The annual Food for Fines program took place from April 9 to 14 in conjunction with National Library Week. Nicole Martin, the library’s administration manager-marketing and technology, said typically people are glad to have the chance to clean out their pantries and have their library fines forgiven.

Through the program, one can of food was equivalent to one dollar in fines. Larger items, such as a box of cereal, counted for $2 in fines. Patrons could bring the donations to any library counter during checkout.

“It’s just giving back to the community,” Martin said. “It gives them the opportunity to do some spring cleaning [of their food pantry] and get their foot back in the library door.”

Food for Fines has been a reoccurring program for more than 10 years and was first inspired by Deb Solloway, the library’s circulation desk manager and a volunteer at St. Mary’s Food Pantry.

“Deb does a lot of community outreach for our community and she works at the food pantry at least once a month and delivers books to the hospital,” Martin said. “She does an amazing job.”

This year, about two laundry baskets full of food and an additional grocery bag of food were collected during the program. The food will be donated to the pantry this week.

Library fines are 15 cents a day for books and a $1 for a movie. If patrons accrue more than $2 in fines, they must pay the amount back before they can check anything additional out.

For their part, St. Mary’s Food Pantry Pat Saxton, who helps to run the pantry’s operations, said the donations come every year at an ideal time.

“They are a very big help especially at this time of year, because of we are a kind of in a lull until the postal food drive [which takes place in May] comes,” Saxton said. “This is a big help to keep up our stock.”

St. Mary’s Food Pantry is a community supported pantry. Food and monetary donations from residents help to keep the pantry stocked. Several fundraisers throughout the year help to support the cause. The pantry does use monetary donations to make regular purchases to assure that the pantry is adequately stocked. Saxton said donations like the library’s Food for Fines help the pantry’s money to go even further. 

For families in need who live in the Niles zip code area, they can receive about a week’s worth of food that is based on their family size. Families can pick up donations every 30 days. Saxton said through her volunteer work, she has seen a pretty big need in the Niles area for the service.

“Most families [who use the service] are either single adults or families with children,” Saxton said. “They really do depend on this. Many families who return every month are living on a $1,000 a month, so there really is not enough good food on their table.”

Saxton said she was grateful for the partnership with the library. She recognized Solloway’s work on the Food for Fines program and her generosity in also donating library books to the pantry for those in need.

“The library has been very supportive,” Saxton said.  “We are delighted to have them as partners.”