Food For Fines Gives Aggies Chance To Tackle Hunger While Clearing Library Debt

Aggie students can reduce or eliminate their library fines and help their campus community through Texas A&M University Libraries’ 10th annual Food for Fines program beginning Feb. 1.

Four of five libraries on Texas A&M’s main campus will accept nonperishable food items as payment for library fines until March 8. Following the food drive, all items will be taken to the 12th Can Food Pantry, an on-campus, student-run pantry that serves members of the university community who need assistance.

“Aggies helping Aggies is what Food for Fines is about,” said Tonya Carter, the Libraries’ Food for Fines coordinator.

Food donations are welcome from anyone, whether or not the donations are associated with library fines.

Carter said the Libraries have donated over 10,000 pounds of food to the pantry since the drive began in 2014.

For each donation of 10 ounces or more, $2 will be credited to a student’s fines on their Libraries account, up to a $100 maximum credit. The program does not cover replacement fees for lost or damaged items, and donations have no monetary value.

Each library will have details about what items will be accepted. Patrons will get a receipt for their donation and receive account credit within 24 hours.

Donations can be made at the Libraries’ “AskUs” desks at the front entrances:

• Sterling C. Evans Library & Annex;
• Business Library & Collaboration Commons;
• Medical Sciences Library,
• and the Policy Sciences and Economics Library.

The 12^th Can Food Pantry strives to eliminate hunger at Texas A&M, bring awareness to food insecurity in college communities, and show others the power of the Aggie spirit.