Katelyn Moorman
Staff Writer
This week is stressful enough for most students without having to worry about parking fines on top of studying for finals.
However, there is a program that can help reduce the cost of a student’s parking fines, while also going to a good cause.
Food for Fines is a program run by the University of Wyoming (UW) Transit and Parking Services in which students with parking citations valued at $38.00 or less can receive a 30% discount on their fine (up to three citations are allowed to be discounted using the Food for Fines program).
Certain restrictions apply, such as people with immobilized vehicles not being allowed to participate and the stipulation that all citations on an account must be paid at the time of the donation to participate in the program.
Junior Shayne Mazur and sophomore Caitlyn Mlodzik both heard of the Food for Fines program through the weekly newsletter sent out by the university, and Mlodzik said she also saw it on Facebook.
“I think it’s a good program, if you know where the food is going to,” Mlodzik said.
All donations gathered by the Food for Fines program will be donated to the UW Staff Senate Holiday Food Drive, an event that helps provide food for families of UW employees who might need a little extra help during the holidays.
As of last year, the UW Staff Senate Holiday Food Drive and the Food for Fines program helped provide food and other staples to 11 families.
“I think it’s a good way to give back to the community without just paying money to the university,” Mazur said. “No one wants to pay fines directly to the university—this helps people feel like they’re doing something else besides just paying a fine.”
Both Mazur and Mlodzik said they think this program encourages people to pay their fines or tickets in general. They said they would participate in this program if they had fines or fees due at UW Transit and Parking Services.
“I’d rather give food away than just my money,” Mlodzik said.
“I think Food for Fines gives people an opportunity to feel like they’re making a difference,” Mazur said.
Donations must not be expired or opened, and they must be in their original packaging. Non-perishable items, including pasta, cooking mixes, peanut butter and canned food can be donated—perishable items, including meat, dairy products and other items that need to be refrigerated or frozen are not allowed.
