by Leah Justice
Polk County libraries are doing a special food drive the month of September where card-holders can bring in food pantry items to get credit for late fees. The food will be donated to the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.
The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Aug. 18 and approved the special food drive for the entire month of September.
Polk Library Director Rishara Finsel met with commissioners and originally asked for the drive to be for one week in September. Commissioner Tom Pack motioned for the drive to be for the entire month with all other commissioners in agreement.
Finsel said she was approached by Outreach, which is participating in Hunger Action month in September. She said the Food for Fines drive will include giving a $1 credit for anyone who brings in a non-perishable food item in replace of fines.
Finsel said other county libraries have done similar food drives with success.
“It’s really a win for everybody involved,” Finsel said, calling the program a food drive “with a twist.”
Hunger Action Month is a movement to raise awareness of food insecurity and mobilize people to help end hunger, Finsel told commissioners.
“Food for Fines benefits customers and builds goodwill in the county,” Finsel said, “while helping to stock the shelves of the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry’s food pantry. Food security is an important issue to us.”
Finsel said North Carolina has the fifth highest rate of food insecurity in the country and Polk County has 64 percent of its students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.
Donations will be accepted at all Polk library branches in Columbus, Saluda and the Bookmobile.
Everyone in the community, whether or not they owe fines are encouraged to donate food.
All collected food will be donated to Outreach’s food pantry. Charges for lost or damaged materials will not be waived during the drive.
Finsel said the drive could bring many people back to the library.
“Many who have fines feel bad about owing money to the library that they can’t pay back,” she said. “Food for Fines gives them an opportunity to clear up fines and resume use of the library, while feeling good about doing something meaningful for the community.”