During July, the library will accept food donations in place of fines. The food will benefit Interfaith Community Services, based in Escondido.

FOOD FOR FINES The Escondido Public Library is collecting food this month in place of overdue fines at two locations:  The main branch at 239 S. Kalmia St.  The East Valley Community Center branch at 2245 E. Valley Parkway

Expensive items, such as canned hams and infant formula, will erase fines of up to $5. Nonperishable items, including canned vegetables, tuna and beans, will count for fines of $1. Donations will cover up to $10 in fines.

In its second year, the “Food for Fines” July program is a rare summer food drive. Most food drives are during the holidays.

Last year, the library donated 50 boxes of food to Interfaith, surpassing its goal of 35 boxes.

“People need food even when it is not the holidays,” said Jo Ann Greenberg, deputy city librarian.

The library also has hosted “Food for Fines” from Thanksgiving to Christmas for more than 15 years.

Greenberg said the library started the holiday program after hearing about it from a library back East. She said she has heard that other libraries have picked up on the idea and that the program is fairly common.

Some members bring in more food than is required to clear their fine, said Emiko Kaz, senior customer services supervisor at the library.

“There are some people that bring in food even if they don't have fines,” Kaz said. “It is a hard time of year, and a lot of people just want to help out.”

Jerry Morgan, a director at Interfaith, said summer is a slow time for food drives. He must ensure that Interfaith has enough food to distribute each month to its 1,500 clients.

“We are not like a food bank,” Morgan said. “We give emergency food, enough for three days, to people that have lost their job, lost their house or are trying to keep up with their bills. We try to help with whatever the issue might be. The universal problem is that they all need food.”

Morgan and Greenberg said that with the poor economy, the need for food donations has increased.

“Last month, 40 percent of the people we saw had never been here before,” Morgan said. “It is part of the economy collapsing. People that didn't need assistance before need help.”

He also said there are fewer donations because people who regularly give food are trying to make ends meet.

Interfaith needs about 25,000 cans or items of food per month. It doesn't have money to keep the food pantry stocked and relies solely on donations.

“Food for Fines is unique,” Morgan said. “It doesn't matter if it is the winter or the summer.”

Corazon Riley is a Union-Tribune intern.

Corazon Riley: (760) 737-7551; corazon.riley@uniontrib.com