Donations of food to cut library fees

The Central Arkansas Library System will hold its annual Food for Fines program Dec. 15-21.

The program allows patrons to donate nonperishable food in lieu of an overdue book fine. Each donated item represents $1, and patrons can donate items to cancel up to $10 in fines. The library system won’t take donations in lieu of lost books.

The food will go to the Arkansas Rice Depot, which has helped the hungry for more than 25 years. The donations also will help the depot’s Food for Kids program, which gives out backpacks full of food for schoolchildren to take home during the weekend.

The library system is asking for ravioli, peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit, pudding cups, cereal and granola bars for the Food for Kids program.