(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
October 25, 2016 - 8:00 PM
VERNON - Vernon has come up with a way to help you feel good about paying your parking tickets.
City council has decided to hold a Food for Fines week, likely in December, during which any fines paid off during that time will be donated to local organizations, such as the Food Bank and Upper Room Mission.
The original idea, which was first proposed by Coun. Scott Anderson as a way to bring the community together for a good cause, was to invite people to pay off fines with non-perishable food items, but city staff said that would be too cumbersome to process. Additionally, cash allows social agencies more flexibility in buying what they need over donated food.
The city gets roughly $4,000 in parking fine revenues each week, so there could be a significant donation to local agencies depending on how many residents participate.
The idea is a hit with Coun. Dalvir Nahal who admits she gets her share of parking tickets and would love to see the money go to charity.
“I just think it’s something fun for us to do and it’s a way to support our local groups that are non-profits struggling to do so much,” Nahal says.
The Food for Fines week is expected to be held Dec. 4 to Dec. 10, however dates have not yet been confirmed.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016