The North Olympic Library System’s recent Food for Fines amnesty program was a win-win-win for the local community, say program organizers.

Hundreds of pounds of donated food and other much-needed resources were collected and given to local nonprofits, community ties were strengthened, and library users were able to reduce fines, clear accounts and renew access to library resources.

Library staff turned over donations to local resource groups, including: Sequim Food Bank, Port Angeles Food Bank, Serenity House, Healthy Families, First Step Family Support, Clallam Bay’s New Hope Food Bank, the Forks Community Food Bank and Olympic Peninsula Humane Society.

During the two week program, 371 NOLS library cardholders donated more than 1,700 pounds of supplies, including food, diapers and pet food.

In return, library staff will now see some long-lost library users come through the doors — people who might not have been utilizing library resources because they owed fines on overdue materials, NOLS staff said.

NOLS thanks everyone who donated to support this community project, including the many library visitors who brought in donations even though they had no fines to clear.