The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) will hold its annual Food for Fines week Dec. 6-12.

The program gives patrons an opportunity to help others while offsetting fines for overdue library materials. Food collected during the drive will be donated to Arkansas Rice Depot, which has been working to alleviate hunger for more than 25 years. Rice Depot's Food For Kids program provides food in backpacks for children to take home from school on the weekend.

Canned meals such as Chef Boyardee-type pasta, chili, and tamales are excellent items that provide protein-rich food for children.  

Patrons are encouraged to bring at least one non-perishable food product for each overdue item to any of the library's branches in Pulaski and Perry County. Food items may not be used to negate fines already on record for materials that have been returned prior to Food for Fines week. For more information click here.