Library Users Donate Nearly 5 Tons of Food in 2 Weeks

Within two short weeks, users helped to raise nearly 10,000 pounds of food for earlier this month.

From July 9 to 22, almost five tons, or 9,948 pounds of food and household supplies were collected during the library’s Food for Fines campaign. The program allowed library users to make a food donation in place of paying a late fee for overdue books, and it certainly proved to be a success.

“It was a major effort and the results show,” said Loaves & Fishes executive director and CEO Charles McLimans. “John Spears (Naperville Library executive director) and the Naperville Public Library have a fantastic staff and they put a lot of effort into marketing and organizing it.”

Spears said he was also very happy with the program's success and the support from residents as well. 

“The library is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that’s served us so well," he said in a press release.

Food for Fines tied-in with the library’s Summer Reading Program, which was themed "Reading is So Delicious!". The library also held a similar campaign last December, which collected about 6,000 pounds, or three tons of food.

“This year people have really stepped up,” McLimans said. “The Naperville Public Library really helped us to nourish those kids throughout the summer. A lot of healthy snacks like peanut butter and granola bars were donated and we’re really pleased with that.”

Personal care and household supplies, like laundry detergent and shampoo, were also collected.

“Those are other items that provide basic human dignity and that's one of our core values at Loaves and Fishes is human dignity,” he said.

Due to the success of the past two Food for Fines programs, McLimans said he is hoping to possibly hold another drive later this year.

For more information on Loaves & Fishes, click here.

For more information on the Naperville Public Library, click here.