Library to Waive Fines for Food Donations

Johnson City Public Library's Food for Fines partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee begins Monday and runs until Dec. 11.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Philanthropy

Library to Waive Fines for Food Donations

Live Poll

Would you support local organizations trading fine forgiveness for food donations to help neighbors?

Johnson City Public Library will launch a Food for Fines partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee starting Monday. Patrons with library fines can donate eligible nonperishable food to have those fines waived.

Why it matters

The program lets patrons clear library fines while supplying food to the regional food bank serving Northeast Tennessee. The library says it partners with other organizations to create positive effects for its patrons.

Each eligible item donated reduces a patron's fine by $2, and last year the program delivered 1,052 pounds of food to Second Harvest while waiving $904.05 in fines. Replacement fees for lost or damaged items are not waived, and the totals for this year's event have not yet been reported.

The players

Johnson City Public Library

The public library system serving Johnson City, Tennessee, which runs the Food for Fines program with its patrons.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee

The regional food bank that receives the donated food and distributes it to food-insecure families across Northeast Tennessee.

The details

Patrons drop off unexpired, original-packaged nonperishable food at the JCPL Circulation Desk to receive the fine deduction. The library does not accept glass, home-canned food, expired products, packaging with holes or baby formula.

Monday: Food for Fines partnership begins at Johnson City Public Library.
Dec. 11: Food for Fines event ends.

Philanthropy Landscape

Public libraries have increasingly used fine forgiveness in exchange for food donations, turning overdue charges into a channel for community food drives. The Johnson City program extends that model through its partnership with Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee.

Patrons with overdue library fines can clear up to the eligible deduction by dropping off unexpired nonperishable food at the Circulation Desk before Dec. 11. Replacement fees for lost or damaged items remain owed regardless of food donations.

The takeaway

Patrons with fines can turn a library balance into a food donation that stays in Northeast Tennessee. Check the eligible-item rules before dropping off so donations are accepted at the Circulation Desk.