ESCONDIDO -- Overdue library books don't have to mean paying a late fine this month at the Escondido Public Library. They could actually help feed a needy family.

The library at 239 S. Kalmia St. is starting its Food for Fines program, a food collection that usually takes place only during the winter holidays, to help Interfaith Community Services restock its pantries during a typically lean time of year.

The program runs Monday through July 31 and will allow people to have up to $10 in late fines waived in exchange for donated food.

Food drives such as this are especially necessary now because many people don't think about helping charities during the summer, Interfaith officials said this week.

"The sun is out, you have a more positive outlook on life and forget about people who are having hard times," said Interfaith spokeswoman Christine Vaughn. "Despite the weather, people can still have a pretty gloomy time in their life."

Jerry Morgan, director of basic needs for Interfaith, said the social service agency provides up to three days' worth of food for about 25 families per day, which he estimated amounts to around 1,000 food items.

"This time of the year, it's almost a necessity that we come up with some new, imaginative ways to get people to have food drives," Morgan said.

Interfaith provides canned foods such as tuna, soup, vegetables and fruit, as well as peanut butter, boxed macaroni and cheese, cereal, bread and fresh fruit when available, he said. Before being given food, families must go through an interview to determine their need, Morgan said.

Deputy City Librarian Jo Ann Greenberg said library officials decided to try a summer Food for Fines program for the first time because of Interfaith's needs. In December, the library collected about 2,000 pounds of food for Interfaith through the program, according to Interfaith officials, and Greenberg hopes to see the same results this month, she said.

The library makes about $7,500 per month on late fees, which go into the city's general fund, but lost about $2,000 in December because of the Food for Fines program, Greenberg said. But the quantity of food was worth far more than the lost fines because of people's generosity, she said.

"People gave us more food than their fines are worth," Greenberg said. "And some people even paid off (their fines) and gave us food."

Morgan said other organizations have been helping Interfaith out this summer. Emmanuel Faith Community Church donated 3,000 pounds of food last week, and local Girl Scout troops donated 1,500 pounds of food in June, he said.

One problem this year is that the U.S. Post Office's annual food drive in May didn't bring in as much food as usual, Morgan said. This year, about 10,000 pounds of food was collected for Interfaith, as opposed to the usual 15,000 pounds, he said.

"It didn't give us the big cushion that we typically have and hope for in the summer," Morgan said.

Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com.