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Dear Redeem-Her:
"I am presently incarcerated at the [Edna Mahan] correctional facility ... That is, I have been incarcerated at this facility for over 11 years. During that time, my family has decreased in size, as well as has continued on with their lives. I have been trying what I can to learn about the world, its technology, and everything else that continues to progress. However, I can only learn so much from magazines and television ... I am currently 33 years old and will be eligible for release to a halfway house in approximately August 2008. I do not have any address with which to be paroled to, should I receive a date from parole prior to transfer to the [halfway house] ... In addition, I do not have any material possessions upon my release in terms of clothes for interviews and/or a job, nor do I have any knowledge of where I can obtain gainful employment or what skills I possess for use. There is an entire plethora of things I need to know how to do, where to do such at, and proper procedure of doing such ... I ask if you could inform me of what resources you provide and/or have available that may help me upon my release. I only possess what I have in my cell in A Cottage ... Thank you ..."
Cindy
Won't you help us help her? We receive letters like this constantly, and it is only with your help that we can help. Please consider giving to Redeem-Her on a monthly basis.
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Redeem-Her awarded its first grant!
Redeem-Her was awarded what we hope is the first of many grants. This grant is a very good first grant to get, as it is specifically meant to help begin the growth of a nonprofit. The formal language is an "organizational infrastructure development grant". In fact, the money explicitly can not be used directly for your constituency, but only on organization building. It comes from the State of New Jersey, and it's $20,000.
Redeem-Her was formed in urgency, because in the midst of our own reentry, we saw desperate, immediate needs of other women in the same situation. What was a mission statement, when women needed help and in a hurry? Who needed guiding principles, when we just had no choice but to get involved?
Strategic plan? Funding? Development? Ha! We may have had precious little of these, but what we had was a passion for our effort. This passion has carried Redeem-Her through two years behind the wall, and three on the outside. Providence, seasoned with a great many learning experiences (aka, mistakes!), has seen us through to create an organization that has helped hundreds of women leaving prison in New Jersey.
But, everyone's got to grow up .... This grant funds such basic things as laptops, cell phones, and accounting software. It also provides things that will ensure our sustainability, like a mission statement and strategic plan, linked to a budgeting process.
Maybe most important, though, is the training this grant will provide our leadership. Our executive director (Stacey) will be getting a certificate in Nonprofit Management. Our outreach director (Marcell) will progress in her pursuit to become a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and our fiscal manager (Sharon) will also be receiving training.
Additionally, we'll be expanding our board to seven members, and quite a few other things. So look for great growth this year in our ability to help women leaving prison in New Jersey. |
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Greetings!
Please join us in congratulating Redeem-Her's Outreach Director (AKA "House Mom"), Marcell DelCorpo, who will celebrate 5 years drug and alcohol free on May 8th. What you may not realize is just how critical Marcell's participation is to what we do at Redeem-Her. I can surely say that we would not be providing housing to women leaving prison if it were not for Marcell. She is the mentor/counselor/friend/foe that the women in our transitional housing work with on a daily basis. She gets the 3 AM phone calls, mediates the personality conflicts, advocates in court for our women and generally handles all crises, perceived and real! And she does this all, really, out of the generousity of her heart and her desire to give back, because I am certain that the $100 per week that we pay her hardly covers the cost of her gas.
In recognition of her tremendous accomplishment, I would like to ask those of you who know Marcell to consider dropping her a quick note of encouragement and congratulations. And if you have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Marcell, but still value her contribution to Redeem-Her and the women we serve -- go ahead, you can drop her a note too!
Marcell DelCorpo
39 Lancaster Avenue
Brick, NJ 08724
marcell@redeem-her.org
Sincerely, 
Stacey Kindt, Exec Director
Marcell (second from left), Natefa, Maryrose and Simone |
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Redeem-Her
PO Box 1352
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(888) 807-2944
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