Pictured is Beth Totten. File photo.

Beth Totten newBy Beth Totten, Public Relations

(Canastota, NY – Dec. 2014) During November and December for the past few years, the Canastota Public Library has held a “Food for Fines” program.  In doing so, the library forgives a patron’s overdue fines for the Canastota Public Library when the patron donates non-perishable food items to the library.  In turn, the library staff has then taken the food to the local Opportunity Shop to help stock the shelves of that local food pantry during the holiday season.

Hunger is not just a holiday issue.  Hunger affects many local residents year round.  The Board of Trustees of the Canastota Library were so impressed with the number of donations that we’ve received during the holiday season that they have extended the effort to a year-long program.  The trustees believe that this will be a benefit to community programs and help many in our local area.

While we will still accept cash for your late fees, you can now bring a non-perishable food donation anytime there is a late fee due to the library.  Unfortunately, if a patron loses an item or if an item is damaged or never returned, the patron will be charged for the replacement of that item.

All non-perishable food donations will be divided equally and donated to the following programs: The Opportunity Shop Pantry, The Compassion Connection Pantry at Believer’s Chapel and Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen located at the United Methodist Church in Canastota.  We can also accept donations of cat and dog food which we will donate to Wanderer’s Rest.

The library is a community center in the village and hopes to continue a spirit of giving that we have held since we began providing services in 1896. Our knitting groups continue to knit and donate items to Oneida Healthcare Center, the Extended Care Facility, area shut-ins, and the Carol Baldwin Cancer Breast Cancer Research Fund. The library also provides the Dolly Parton Imagination Library at no cost to area children.  We will continue to help our community in whatever ways we are able to help. For additional information on any of our library programs, please stop in or call us at 697-7030.

By martha

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