Local libraries turn to the community this month accepting food donations in return to clear fines.

San Mateo County Libraries are accepting non perishable food donations at any 12 branches for their Food for Fines program. All collected food will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Food for Fines runs throughout December. Library card owners have the option to donate food inreturn to have fines and fees waived.

Sophomore Morgan Watson said, “This is a win-win situation. We get our fines waived and local community members who are less fortunate receive food for the holidays.”

The San Mateo County Libraries decided to expand the food drive after an extremely successful 2012 Food for Fines.

The San Mateo County Library was the recipient of Second Harvest’s Outside the Barrel award. This award recognizes the most creative food drive efforts. Due to their success, Food for Fines has spread to all 12 branches of the San Mateo Library system.

Cameron Kuo said, “With 12 libraries participating in the event, Second Harvest will definitely receive more food donations and many library cards will be zeroed out.”

Every year, Second Harvest donates more than 4.5 million pounds of food to local families in San Mateo and Santa Clara county. With this amount of food, Second Harvest has the ability to feed 1053 families for a week.

Most of Second Harvest’s donations are to children and seniors.

Sophomore Abbey Holbrook said, “It is nice to know that seniors and children receive food, but it is the adults who take care of them. It is really important that adults have a good amount of food too.”

Food collected is distributed to soup kitchens making holiday meals, and non-profit organization delivering food to local families.