Peninsula Libraries Accept Food for Fines

San Mateo residents with overdue library fines can now bring in canned or non-perishable food directly to San Mateo County Library branches and have late fines up to $100 dropped.

Library services manager Anna Koch said the program raised more than 30,000 pounds of food for needy families last year.

“People just brought in cans of food,” Koch said. “They just brought in food regardless of whether they had fines or not. So it was a really successful food drive.”

Under the program, patrons are encouraged to bring in more food for larger fines.

The library system works with Second Harvest Food Bank, one of the nation’s largest.

Redwood City Public Libraries also participates in the program. Last year more than 4,400 patrons donated food.

This year’s food drives end Dec. 29.

Don Clyde Contributed to this report.