Monday, December 21, 2009

Library Staff Donates to Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry

As you may know, the Library annually holds its "Food for Fines" week in November to benefit the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry. During this time, people can bring in unexpired, nonperishable food items for credit toward their overdue fines. The Library also places a collection jar for monetary donations to the Food Pantry during that week. This year $237 was collected from the public.

Going into the holiday season, the Library management team and I knew that some staff were struggling financially. We had an idea to replace Secret Santa or gift exchanges among staff with a donation drive for the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry. Our goal would be to collect at least as much as we had collected from the public during Food for Fines week. That way, each staff member would put in as much as they were comfortable with, without having to disclose any financial hardship to their co-workers. Then the idea snowballed...

One management team member pledged to match dollar for dollar the other staff members' donations. Another had her whole family join in to donate. Two others convinced a club to which they both belong to make a group donation.

Together, the staff and their friends and family donated $1,250 to the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry. I am very proud of the Library staff and their generosity to this amazing organization.

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