This year’s donation raised during the Food for Fines initiative. (Photo courtesy of NMU police)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s Police Department continues its tradition of Food for Fines, an initiative in conjunction with the National Day of Giving in which students can exchange non-perishables for parking citations.

“This is an opportunity for the NMU community to give back to the community while at the same time alleviating campus parking fines,” said Sgt. Jesse Wernholm. “Students or employees who bring in a full grocery bag of non-expiring food items and/or personal care products to the NMU Police Department parking window are forgiven a $25 parking citation. If a student or employee does not have any parking citations, they may still donate and have their name put into a drawing for a free NMU parking permit.”

This tradition has been going on since the fall 2017 and has seen nearly 500 pounds of food and personal care items donated last year to NMU’s food pantry in Gries Hall, equating to nearly 35 parking citations excused. This year in particular sees students and faculty needing more donations.

“We have been notified that the NMU Food Pantry has seen an increase of approximately 80 additional monthly users recently. So yes, there is a need more than I can ever recall,” said Wernholm.

This need on campus makes it all the more better when NMU PD can further help the NMU community.

“It feels great,” said Wernholm. “It’s nice to see so many smiley faces… .

“https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.miningjournal.net/images/2026/01/04125115/Food-for-Fines-2025-375×500.jpg” alt=”” width=”375″ height=”500″ class=”alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323192″ /> This outreach has been very uplifting. Michigan Tech has recently began running a similar program. “

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.