FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Food donations near two tons

Libraries donate almost two tons to Foodbank

Patrons of the Newport News Public Library System donated to the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula during the 2011 holiday season as part of the Can Your Fines program.

Newport News library patrons replaced their overdue fines with donations of 3,880 pounds of food and personal items over the 2011 holiday season.

The Can Your Fines program allowed a nonperishable, nonexpired food item or personal item to take the place of a fine for overdue materials from Nov. 26 to Dec. 29, 2011, at all Newport News Public Libraries. All items collected were donated to the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.

Can Your Fines applied to outstanding fines for long-overdue items that were returned, but did not apply to lost or damaged materials or to fees charged once an account had been sent to the collection agency.

The Newport News Public Library System’s Can Your Fines program has been a holiday tradition for more than 25 years.

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