FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The holiday season is just around the corner and the Fayetteville Public Library (FPL) kicked off its annual holiday donation drives.
The library partnered with three different nonprofit organizations to collect donations from the community and support those in need.
"The people we help are usually employed, have a family and just can't make it from one month to the other without a little help if something goes wrong in their life," said Maxine LeBlanc with Cooperative Emergency Outreach.
The library launched a new drive this year called the "fee forgiveness tree." Patrons received one dollar off their overdue book fees for every approved canned food item they donated through the Food for Fees canned food drive.
Kathleen Lehman, Fayetteville Public Library representative said "One of the things that the library already does and is good at is matching people with material programs that are going to improve and enhance their lives."
The library is the main site for all of the drives including the Ranger's Pantry Pet Food Bank which is accepting dog and cat food donations. They say partnering with the library each year significantly helps reduce the chances of leaving a pet in need.
"We opened the pantry in 2010. And we have helped over 5,800 pets and distributed over 200,000 pounds of food during that time period. So we've not ever had to turn anybody away," added Kelly Colebar, Ranger's Pet Food Bank representative.
Lehman says the Food for Fees canned food donation drive hit a record number of over 3,000 pounds of donated canned goods back in 2015.
Other partners like The Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive are still collecting winter attire.
"It would be great this year if we could hit between 1,000 to 2,000 like last year. And we had almost 200 sweaters and pieces of warm clothing donated. So again, kind of that ballpark would be great," Lehman says.
The canned food drive ended yesterday, but the sweater drive will run until Nov. 30. The pet food drive and Food and Fee forgiveness program will run until Dec. 23.
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