Send Books!

total so far: $571.67
52 books
16 periodicals

Donate here: https://www.crowdrise.com/booksandmagazinesformyprisonpen-pals/fundraiser/happyskywalker

Fake names and real reading lists:

"Nick" 2016

Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card $5.99
"Muscle and Fitness" Magazine subscription $29.97

Swan Song by Robert McCammon $7.99

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin $7.99

"Twon" 2016
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) Don Miguel Ruiz $6.83
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien $9.19
Fahrenheit 451: A Novel by Ray Bradbury $9.52 

"Marcus" 2016
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien $9.19
Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card $5.99
1984 (Signet Classics) by George Orwell $7.78
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak $7.79

"Tony" 2016

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) Don Miguel Ruiz $6.83

Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card $5.99

Swan Song by Robert McCammon $7.99

Ender in Exile (The Ender Quintet) bOrson Scott Card  $7.99

Sea Wolves: A History of The Vickings by Lars Brownworth $11.63

Amount I spent in 2016 NOT including any postage, supplies, or anything else I do for the guys (like put money on my phone for their collect calls, or send shampoo and toothpaste): 

2016 total so far: $157.06
"Tony" 2015
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg $9.60
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams $7.99
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card $7.99
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari $20.34

Amount I spent in 2015 so far NOT including any postage, supplies, or anything else I do for the guys (like put money on my phone for their collect calls, or send birthday headphones):

2015 total: $182.07

Also in 2015 I was lucky enough to raise the money here needed to send a typewriter to one of the guys who is writing a book. You fabulous people contributed the $300 needed to make it happen through this page I made: 

"Nick" 2014
Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles Baron, Puzzle $12.30
A two year subscription to "Positive News" Newspaper in print $35.00
Slingshot organizer factory seconds, $2.86

"Twon" 2014
Amazing Sudoku Variants by Conceptis Puzzles $7.15
 $2.86
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Personal Workbook by Stephen R. Covey $9.32

"Marcus" 2014
Amazing Sudoku Variants by Conceptis Puzzles $7.15
Slingshot organizer factory seconds, $2.86

"Tony" 2014
Amazing Sudoku Variants Conceptis Puzzles $7.15
Slingshot organizer factory seconds, $2.86

Amount I spent in 2014 NOT including any postage, supplies, or anything else I do for the guys (like put money on my phone for their collect calls, or copy photos they only have one of):

2014 total: $241.73

There are some fabulous gentlemen living within the American prison system that I keep in touch with and consider to be my friends.

I decided to write inmates because I am aware that they are humans being cut off from the world, and that seems like enough reason to me. I'm super glad I chose to get to know these fellas, but I've learned how dismal their lives can be without reading materials, and not being able to write them each daily (wanting to provide opportunity for knowledge and growth that I might not be the best source for), I want to send them books. But I have very little money.

I set up a donation page over here, and as people helped me and the guys got things, I wanted to keep track of what good you folks are doing so you can see how the money is spent. I use Amazon Prime to ship for free, so no donations are spent on shipping. I don't spend any donations on stamps, greeting cards, envelopes or phone time with the guys, that's all out of my pocket. Believe me, that takes plenty of my money too. Which is more reason why I need help providing them reading materials. Thank you for your kindness!

3 comments:

  1. You actually inspire me to write to two guys on death row last week. I'm excited (?) to hear back and see how things go!

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    Replies
    1. That's great, Tom! I hope you get great letter-friendships like I have. Remember that going through security makes it take a lot longer than you'd expect! You'll probably get replies in a month or two (if they can afford stamps). Your new penpals lucked out, getting such a wise new friend.

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  2. Awesome. If our prison system is not a place where inmates can improve themselves, then the absolute best we can expect from it is that the ones who come out are the same when they come out as when they went in. That doesn't seem like a win for anybody.

    ReplyDelete