December 13, 2002

North Shore City libraries are once again running a Food for Fines appeal in support of the Salvation Army's Christmas food parcels.

Up to $5 will be waived off fines owed from December 9 to 20 if borrowers give non-perishable food items in place of the fine - although this only applies if the total fine is less than $10 and the borrower is not paying off Bay Agency charges.

When the appeal ran last year for the first time, the libraries forwarded more than 20 cartons of food to the Salvation Army's office in Archers Rd, Glenfield. Organisers are hoping for an even bigger response this year - as the need seems to grow year by year, they say.

Organiser Sharron Cleghorn, manager of the Birkenhead Library, says any food item is welcome - as long as it's not perishable.

All the donations will be used for Christmas food parcels.

ENDS