Next week there will be a great opprotunity for families to support their community while paying their overdue fines at the library. The Forbes Library in Northampton, MA, will be holding a Food for Fines week from Sunday, January 7th to Saturday, January 13th, 2007. During this week, families may pay any overdue fines on their account with a donation of canned goods (please check your expiration dates) or healthy non-perishable food items. All food collected will be given to The Northampton Survival Center for distribution.

The Northampton Survival Center is an emergency food pantry which provides low-income individuals and families in 16 communities in Hampshire County with free food, clothing, household goods, and referrals for emergency assistance. The center serves 16 communities, including Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, and Worthington.

By donating high demand food items, such as non-dairy milk, cereal, crackers, canned fruit, peanut butter, tuna fish, soup, macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, beans, and rice you can erase any fines due to the Forbes Library in Noho. Suggested donation is one item for each $1 waived in fines. Food may be dropped off at either the Children’s Department or the Circulation Desk at the Forbes Library, located at 20 West Street in Northampton. For more information call 587-1011.