Customers of the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour, Crothersville and Medora can celebrate National Library Week and National Volunteer Week by paying for overdue fines with nonperishable food items April 7 through 20.

Discovery Bus customers must visit a library to participate.

Donations of nonperishable food items collected in lieu of fines are given to local food pantries at Community Provisions of Jackson County Inc. and Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour, Crothersville First Baptist Church and Medora Christian Church.

For every dollar owed in fines, at least one food item must be donated. If a customer has a $5 fine, at least five food items are needed to erase the fine. A fine of $5.50 would require at least six food items.

Food items must not be expired, rusty, dented or USDA commodities. Food for Fines is not available to customers with damaged or lost materials. The materials must be returned undamaged within six months of their original due date before the overdue fines can be waived. Collection agency accounts with late materials may participate in this year’s only fine-waiving program as long as they pay the $10 collection agency fee first.

Customers participating in Food for Fines will receive a receipt reflecting fines waived by their donation. Food for Fines applies to all Jackson County Public Library materials, including movies and audiobooks, but does not apply to fines from other Evergreen Indiana libraries.

Individuals without fines wishing to donate food items may do so at any library.

Since its first fine-waiving program in 1991, the library has accepted 82,160 items (food, school supplies and supplies for the Humane Society) and waived $67,956.82 in overdue fines.

Information: Seymour at 812-522-3412, Crothersville at 812-793-2927 or Medora at 812-966-2278