Ash Bolt
Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) is wiping the slate clean for library members with its Food for Fines appeal, waiving overdue fines in exchange for donations to the Geelong Food Relief Centre.
Until Friday, December 10, the GRLC will waive customers’ overdue fines in exchange for donations of non-perishable food items.
Food items can be donated at any library branch or mobile library in the GRLC network, and will be collected by Geelong Food Relief Centre volunteers for distribution to individuals and families through its emergency food relief program.
GRLC chairman Ron Nelson said in addition to making a difference to the lives of local people experiencing hardship, the Food for Fines appeal also provided a great excuse for library members to get back to using their library if they had been put off by fines accruing.
“The Food for Fines appeal is a ‘win-win’ for the community,” Cr Nelson said.
“We know that some library members stop visiting their local library because they have accumulated fines. COVID-19 has also meant that people may be out of the routine of getting along to the library.
“Food For Fines provides the perfect excuse for people to get back to the library, to borrowing books and enjoying library events again.
“At the same time, by making a donation to the appeal you know that you’ll be supporting the amazing work that Geelong Food Relief Centre does to assist local people who are experiencing food and financial insecurity at a time when many in our community are vulnerable.”
The Geelong Food Relief Centre is a not-for-profit organisation which helps individuals and families through the delivery and supply of nutritious food.
Food insecurity is a significant issue across the Greater Geelong area, and it is anticipated around 42,000 individuals will be assisted with emergency food relief throughout the region during the 2021-22 financial year.
The festive season is a particularly busy period for the organisation.
The long-running partnership between the GRLC and the Geelong Food Relief Centre on the Food for Fines appeal has been highly successful, with library members displaying great generosity each year.
It was not run last year due to the pandemic, however during the 2019 appeal, more than two metric tons of food was donated by the community and distributed locally.
GRLC chief executive Vanessa Schernickau said she was anticipating a similarly generous response this year.
“We are lucky to live and work in such an amazing community and during COVID we have seen local people really rally together and support those in our region who are doing it tough,” she said.
“I am certain that our library community will be donating generously to Food for Fines.
Geelong Food Relief Centre chief executive Collin Peebles said his team of volunteers continued to meet unprecedented demand for its emergency service.
“The pandemic has put an additional demand on our services, with many in our community feeling the strain of financial pressure and food insecurity,” Mr Peebles said.
“With the onset of the festive season GFRC welcomes donations through the Food for Fines appeal which will help us bolster depleted stock levels at a critical and busy time of year.
“Thank you in advance to everyone who makes a donation.”
Food products donated through the appeal should have an expiration date of May 2022 or later.
Geelong Food Relief Centre has indicated there was currently demand for items including canned tuna, assorted condiments, cake mix, pasta and sauce, dry biscuits, noodles, dried fruit, flour, tea and coffee, UHT milk and sauces.
