Book fines canned following food donations

GIVETH and you shall receive, according to Geelong Library’s annual Food for Fines campaign that sees library fees waived for food.

The campaign, which ran in December, saw 1,968kg of non-perishable food exchanged for $2,424 worth of fines.

Geelong Library Corporation joins a network of libraries worldwide that support the initiative with donations going to the Geelong Food Relief Centre (GFRC), who assist over 8,000 families (equating to 24,000 adults and children) annually across the Geelong region.

Library members in conjunction with City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Golden Plains Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe communities contributed to the most successful campaign yet with donations up 80 per cent on the previous year.

Geelong Regional Library Corporation chair Margot Smith said she was very proud of their contribution.

“This year the library corporation’s Food for Fines campaign collected an incredible amount of food for people in need of support.

“It is very pleasing to see this partnership with the Geelong Food Relief Centre in operation each year it’s such a positive campaign. Our library members can have their overdue fines waived and large quantities of non-perishable food are collected in time to make a difference to families in need over the Christmas period.”

Geelong Food Relief Centre operations manager Collin Peebles said that the Food for Fines campaign had been of great value to the centre’s operations, with the majority of food distributed to those in need before the festive season.

“We are very grateful for the support provided and the quality of the products, which was excellent. On behalf of the Geelong Food Relief Centre, I wish to thank everyone who donated,” Mr Peebles said.