-Message from The Boone County Public Library-

Pay your overdue fines with food! From February 6-19, you can exchange canned goods and other nonperishable foods for library overdue fines to help the Family Resource Centers at Collins, Ockerman and Florence Elementary Schools. These Resource Centers are school-based initiatives whose mission is to ensure that children come to school healthy, safe, and prepared to learn. With the current economic downturn and high unemployment, 9% of the children living in Boone County are below the poverty line and 31% of the children in Boone County Schools are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. Children who are hungry cannot learn and succeed in life.

How can you help? The Library will waive $1 in current overdue fines for each can or package of food donated during the drive (a maximum of $20 can be waived). Donations may not be used to waive replacement fees for lost or damaged items or collection agency fees. Don't have any overdue fines? That's OK, no need to have fines to participate. All donations are gratefully accepted. Food may be dropped off at all Boone County Public Library locations. Bring a can down to your local library and help feed our community! 

Items especially needed include:

*    peanut butter

*    jelly

*    canned meats (tuna fish, beef stew)

*    canned vegetables and fruit

*    macaroni and cheese

*    rice and pasta

*    breakfast cereal or hot cereal

Please note: The library cannot accept home-canned  items, items that are opened, cans that are past their expiration date, dented, damaged, or cans with bar codes that have been lined or scratched through.