Campus libraries around Nova Scotia are waiving portions of overdue-book fines in exchange for food.
For every canned or non-perishable item, university and college libraries will lop $2 from a book fine, to a maximum of $20. The donations go to campus or local food banks.
The annual campaign helps the Cape Breton University campus food bank fill its shelves and raise its profile, said co-ordinator Tiffany Hyde.
"There are a lot of young parents out there trying to make an education for themselves and make a career but they can't do it just under normal funds," said Hyde, a fourth-year nursing student.
She said many of the students who need food have children or are living in residence, and many are international students.
Unlike other food banks, the one at CBU works on the honour system, with the room left open and students free to help themselves.
"They come in the evenings typically when no one is around because it is a very private issue for a lot of them," Hyde said. "They don't really want people to know that they can't afford food."
The donations through the Food for Fines project are already turning up on food bank shelves.
Debbie MacInnis, with the CBU library, said the campaign usually raises between 200 and 300 food items a year and about $100 in cash.
"But we'd like to see more people give and we'd like to break all records this year," MacInnis said.
The Food for Fines campaign continues until Feb. 15.
