Wagga City Library acting manager Michael Scutti said the program, which was originally called Food for Fines, has been running for about 25-years, with support as strong as ever this time around.

"It's been really good," Mr Scutti said.

"When the program originally started it was called Food for Fines. People would come in and donate food and have their fines wiped from their library account, but in 2020 we demolished late fees for overdue books and items and we switched it to Christmas Food Appeal."

Mr Scutti said they had been anticipating a decrease in donations upon the switch, but that hasn't been the case.

"In our first year, we thought we might not get many because, what's the motivation as no one is getting library fines, but we were really really surprised, pleasantly surprised," he said.

"People were still bringing in pretty much the equivalent of food as in previous years.

"The spirit of giving is alive and well in Wagga."

Mr Scutti said the food is given to local charities which then distribute it to families facing hardship.

"The charities it goes to are really appreciative of it," he said.

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But while the name may lead you to believe the donations get distributed during the festive season, they will actually be given in a time of even greater need.

"It will get distributed in early 2022, so after Christmas," Mr Scutti said.

"A lot of families stretch the budget, then blow the budget over Christmas- because obviously, they want to give the kids the best Christmas ever.

"So sometimes that means they overstretched themselves and then they're really short over that period directly after Christmas, that's when those charities need is at its greatest.

"So, all the food is distributed during that period."

The donations are a whole-community effort, with everyone, within and outside the library community pitching in.

"We find people just come in with their non-perishable food and put it down- a lot of the time they don't even want acknowledgement for it," Mr Scutti said.

"It's been fantastic- in terms of financial motivation- that's not there anymore so really people are just doing it from the own kindest of their heart.

"Every time I witness something like that I'm always impressed by it- it always gives you continued faith in humanity."

Donations will continue to be accepted right up until Christmas eve, with residents invited to drop their non-perishable food staples to the library.

"Bring them in, feel good, make everyone else feel good and give those families a good start to 2022," Mr Scutti said.

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