LADY LAKE – For the second year, the Lady Lake Library is hosting its annual “School Supplies for Fines” drive to support area children. This program is a great way for patrons to pay off fines while giving back to the community. The library will waive overdue material fees in exchange for donations of school supplies.

Donations can include No. 2 pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons and backpacks. Last year, the Lady Lake Library donated over 100 pounds of school supplies to The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake. In exchange for donations from the community, nearly $500 in library fines were forgiven. “Last year, The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake greatly appreciated the donations they received,” said Aly Herman, Library Director. “It’s truly a wonderful way to give back to our community while also providing an added benefit to library patrons.”

Donations will be accepted during regular business hours at the Lady Lake Library, located at 225 W. Guava Street, from July 1-31. For more information, visit www.ladylakefl.gov or facebook.com/ladylakelibrary225.

The Lady Lake Library participated in the Lake County Library System’s annual Food for Fines initiative in May, which forgives $1 of overdue fees for every food item donated.

The Library collected over 1,000 items for its local food bank, the Lady Lake Christian Food Pantry, which feeds 350 families each month. Started in 1998, the Food Pantry is an off-campus ministry of North Lake Presbyterian Church that provides supplemental groceries for families in need in Lady Lake, The Villages, Summerfield and Weirsdale.

Front, left to right: Lady Lake Library Director Aly Herman, Pantry Director Carrol Neal and Library Youth Services Assistant Kourtney Fehr

Back, left to right: Pantry volunteers Jaime Rotger and Steve Krick