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‘Food for fines’: Lake County libraries to forgive fines in exchange for food donations

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — If you live in Lake County and held on to your library books a little too long, we’ve got news for you: The library system will forgive library card fines in exchange for food donations.

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During the month of May, library fines and overdue materials will be forgiven in exchange for donations of dry or canned food items, hygiene and baby products, and packaged pet food, the library said.

You can drop off a donation at each of the 16 Lake County libraries during regular hours.

Each unopened, unexpired item will equate to $1 forgiven for overdue library fines.

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There is no limit to how many things you can donate.

The library system said that fines cannot be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged.

If you don’t have any fines, you are still encouraged to donate items.

Each item that you donate will be used anonymously to forgive another patron’s fines.

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The library system said all donations will be sent to local food banks and charities in the county.

“This program offers library patrons a chance to have their library fines waived while also helping to get food and other essentials to those in need,” said George Taylor, director of the Lake County Library System. “We encourage everyone to get involved and pay it forward!”

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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.