Prison Book Program
e-Newsletter
September 2010 
 
 
"There are no words that can describe the feeling an inmate gets when he realizes someone on the outside cares enough about him to send him some reading material. It's organizations like yours that give us inmates hope and inspiration to become better people by reaching out to others in need."
 
- a prisoner from Enfield, CT
Support our 4th Annual Book Drive
BRING US YOUR BOOKS AS WELL AS THOSE OF YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!   
 
Date: Saturday, November 6th
Place:  The Non-Profit Center,
89 South Street (near South Station), Boston, MA
 
The Prison Book Program, along with the City Mission Society and Better World Books will be hosting the 4th Annual Great American Book Drive. The books we collect that day will either be sent to prisoners or sold to support the programs of PBP and the City Mission Society. 
 
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Your friends, relatives and co-workers have books they need to find a new home for!  Help them out and help PBP at the same time!  Hold a book drive and bring the books to the Nonprofit Center in Boston on November 6th.  
 
We'll help you! We've put together a kit with all the info you need to run your own drive - flyers, email text, etc.  If you need a collection box, we can supply you with one of those too.  Go to www.prisonbookprogram.org/bookdrive for complete information. 
Dictionary Drive a Huge Success
1000 DICTIONARIES ARE ON THE SHELVES! 

1000 Dictionaries
We're sending a huge THANK YOU to the many generous donors who supported our virtual dictionary drive.  Thanks to them, we reached our goal of $2740 and were able to purchase 1000 dictionaries over the summer.  Because we were able to buy 1000 at one time, we were saved 40% off retail.
 
The American Century Dictionary is a college-level reference most requested by prisoners. 
    
Many thanks to everyone who supported the drive!   
PBP At Lilith Fair, Boston 
PBP PARTICIPATED IN LILITH FAIR'S I4C CAMPAIGN ALONG WTIH BETTER WORLD BOOKS

The [i4c] Campaign™ exists to support thoughtful entrepreneurship committed to people, the planet, and profit. Together with it's partners such as Better World Books, they are ensuring a better tomorrow by supporting responsible businesses today. 
 
PBP was happy to participate in the I4C village along wtih Better World Books.  PBP's Pam Boiros spoke with BWB's Abbey.  Check out the interview on YouTube.   
 
Saturday Sessions are Back 

Now that everyone is back from their summer travels, Saturday packing sessions are back!  If you can't make it down to Quincy on a Tuesday or Thursday night, join us on one of the following Saturdays: 
  • September 18th, 10-4 
  • October 23rd, 10-4
  • November 20th, 10-4
  • December 18th, 10-4
Prisoner Writing: How the Diary of Anne Frank Changed My Life
 
WE ASKED PRISONERS TO WRITE ESSAYS ON THE SUBJECT OF PRISON LITERACY AND RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF THEM.  VOLUNTEER DANIELLE BROWN HAS BEEN COMPILING THE BEST OF THEM INTO A BLOG.  FOR MORE WRITINGS AS INSPIRATIONAL AS THIS ONE, CHECK IT OUT AT PRISONBOOKPROGRAM.BLOGSPOT.COM.  
  
PBP Blog I would like to share my story of how books have changed my life.

First, I think I should give you a brief history of my life. I am a 45 year old man who has been an addict since the age of 10. Drugs were introduced to me by older kids in the neighborhood. They thought it would be funny and "cool" to see me stumble around saying and doing goofy things. I didn't make it past 7th grade and ended up in prison at the age of 18. I have since spent 28 years in and out of prison for crimes committed to support my addiction.

At the age of 43 I was once again in prison. I was severely depressed and had no hope for ever breaking the cycle of drugs and prison. I was completely alone and contemplating suicide. That's when I saw the last 30 minutes of the movie The Diary of Anne Frank. I was moved so much that I went to the prison library looking for a copy of her actual diary, but they didn't have one. I heard about an interlibrary loan project that might be able to help me find a copy, and in 6 weeks I had this smiling little angel in my hands.

I read her diary in one sitting and I have not been the same ever since. This little girl made this grown man cry. This little girl held mirrors up to me from every angle, making it impossible for me to avoid myself any longer. All my self pity and blaming had disappeared. This little girl smacked me across my face and forced me to wake up.

I'd like to share one of the many quotes by Anne that helped change me forever. "If you know you are weak, why not do something about it? Why not train your character? Because it's easier not to."

It has been 2 � years since I first found Anne Frank and a lot has happened with me since then. I wrote everyone and anyone with requests for more books about Anne and the Holocaust in general. I saved my prison allowance and purchased several books of my own. I had never read this many books in my entire life.

I gained an education from these history books that changed my life forever. My depression lifted. I admitted myself into an intense six-month in-house prison drug and alcohol and behavior modification program from which I graduated. I completed a course in basic automotive technology and I have spent the past 8 months in upholstery class recently completed my first reupholstered chair.

I must also mention the effects all the other books [about the Holocaust] have had on me. One in particular is Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman. She survived the Holocaust, but her story was like nothing I had ever heard. I will no longer complain about prison food or clothing. I am completely aware of how fortunate I am and this awareness will never leave me.

I owe so much to Anne, Alicia, and the 6 million other beautiful souls [I read about]. The only way to honor them is to devote the rest of my life to helping others. I now have a purpose in life.

 
-Submitted by Edward Robinson
SCI-Coal Township, Pennsylvania
 
Thank You Volunteers!
MANY MANY THANKS TO OUR RECENT VOLUNTEERS!
 
  • Bookworms Book Group
  • Boston Cares
  • Boston Urban Outreach
  • Camp Grotonwood
  • City Mission Society
  • Fidelity After Five
  • Hope Christian Church, Winchester, MA 
  • New Horizon United Church of Christ, Farmington, WI 
  • Old South Church, Boston, MA 
  • Park Street Church, Boston, MA
  • YAVA
... and numerous dedicated individuals!
In This Issue
Support our 4th Annual Book Drive
Dictionary Drive a Huge Success
PBP At Lilith Fair
Saturday Sessions Are Back
Prisoner Writing: How the Diary of Anne Frank Changed My Life
Thank You Volunteers!
Support PBP
Every $3 sends books to another prisoner!  Make an online donation today!
 
Donate Now 
 
The Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Prisoner Resources 

PLEASE PRINT AND SHARE THESE RESOURCES
WITH YOUR LOVED ONES IN PRISON


 

Come Volunteer With Us!

Tuesdays & Thursdays
 
6:30 - 9:00 PM
 
Select Saturdays
10am-4pm 
 
September 18
 October 23
November 20
December 18 
 
 
Stats
Year to Date
Stats
 
Prisoners served:
4406
 
Books sent:
8812
 
Volunteer sessions:
1483
   

PBP ONLINE

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Email:
Prison Book Program
c/o Lucy Parsons Bookstore 
1306 Hancock Street, #100
Quincy, MA 02169
 
(617) 423-3298
www.prisonbookprogram.org