'Food for Fines' drive at Kyle Public Library to benefit Hays County Food Bank

Kyle Public Library hosts 'Food For Fines' drive for Hays County Food Bank

For every non-perishable food item brought to the library, two dollars in library fines is forgiven.

KYLE, Texas - If you have library fines in Kyle, now is your chance to both get them forgiven and help your community.

The Kyle Public Library is hosting a "Food for Fines" Spring Harvest Food Drive benefiting the Hays County Food Bank starting Saturday, April 1 through Monday, May 15.

The director of the library said it’s a way to help many people in the community.

"We are a community that likes to help one another," Kyle Public Library Director Colleen Tierney said. "Partnering to serve the community, it’s a really wonderful partnership."

For every non-perishable food item brought to the library, two dollars in library fines is forgiven.

"We’re doing this to help the food bank as well as to help our patrons that find it prohibitive to pay for the fines, but it may be easier to bring in food," Tierney said.

Community members without library fines can still donate and help others who do.

"If you are in a position where you can donate food, we’d be glad to accept that and apply that to another library patron’s account," Tierney said.

The Food Bank said donations during the spring and summer months are needed.

"People tend to be interested in donated during the holiday season and that unfortunately is not the only time that people are in need. People have food insecurity throughout the year," Tierney said.

Non-perishable items that can be dropped off at the library include:

Low-sodium soups and broths
Tomato products and pasta sauces
Canned vegetables
Dried and canned beans
Whole grain pastas and rice
Whole grain/high fiber cereals
Natural peanut butter and jelly
Nuts and granola bars
Dried and canned fruit (low-sugar, light fruit)

The Hays County Food Bank is also accepting and seeking fresh food donations, but the library says it does not have the facilities to store and distribute fresh food.

Instead, residents can donate those items in person to the Hays County Food Bank at 220 Herndon St. in San Marcos on Monday – Thursday between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.

For more information, click here.