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The Escape Through Books program began in August 2007. As of April 2008, 2,100 books were sent to 900 inmates in 25 California prisons and community correctional facilities. By the time the program reaches it's one year anniversary (August 2008), we project having shipped 4,000 books to 1,500 inmates.
A Program of Hope and Healing for California Inmates In August 2007, The Book Bag was presented with an unexpected opportunity to contribute to literacy in an extraordinary way. Each month The Book Bag donates hundreds of books that cannot be sold in the retail store to the Ventura County Jail for their inmate libraries. An inmate who received one of these donated books took the book with him when he was transferred to a California prison. The Book Bag’s address was inside the cover of this book. Another inmate who borrowed the book wrote to the store and asked if he could be sent a few free books since he was confined to a cell for 23 hours each day and had no funds or family to help him secure books. His letter included a request for titles such as War and Peace, Machiavelli’s The Prince, A Tale of Two Cities and any works by Plato or Shakespeare. The Book Bag sent him several free books from his request list, and naturally, word passed from this inmate to another who made a similar appeal. And another followed. And another. Ultimately, The Book Bag created a new program called “Escape Through Books” to provide free books to California prison inmates. Inmates now request books ranging from classics, fiction and non-fiction, to self-help. dictionaries and Bibles. Regulations permit us to send up to 4 books per inmate per month. While the books are free to the inmates, they pay an average of $3.25 for every two books we mail to them. This program has been so successful that we predict that by August 2008, one year after we started, we will have sent 4,000 books to over 1,500 inmates in more than 34 California prisons and community correctional facilities. Letters from inmates requesting books and then expressing gratitude are both heartwarming and encouraging. Many of the inmates who request books write that they are not just “passing time” by reading. Rather, they are using their incarceration to take advantage of the rehabilitative opportunities available to them, including college classes, trade programs, or substance abuse prevention. These letters and stories of hope and gratitude compel The Book Bag founders, employees and volunteers to remain committed to the “Escape Through Books” program despite the cost and effort. Their original mission to support literacy by making books accessible and affordable has a new twist; helping inmates become more literate through the simple act of reading. You can help by donating stamps or cash. --- $25.00 covers the cost of shipping 16 books to 8 prison inmates --- Read the Ventura County Star article about the "Escape Through Books" Program.
Voices from Inside
"My ability to lose myself in books has really helped me to pass the time here. Prior to this sentence I could probably count on my hands the number of books I have read in my entire life yet in the last four years I have read at least 3,000 books from numerous authors." A.S. – Avenal State Prison
"Once again I can’t thank you enough for the books and satisfying our literary thirst. You can’t even imagine how quenching one whole complete book can be to a few people in one week. So whenever it is possible, can you bless us with another book without adding a burden to yourself. We can pass the books under a tiny crack under our doors by opening a book in half and sliding it under the door from cell to cell so many of us get to enjoy the books you send." G.G. – Mcfarland CCF
"I recently became a Christian man and I have a good Bible but I still have a hard time finding answers to my questions. A friend told me that what I needed was a “Bible Concordance”. I don’t have any money right now and I don’t know if I’ll ever get any soon so here I am writing to you in hopes that you could help me because I really want to learn about God.” A.D. – Soledad State Prison
"I want to thank you for these fine books. I find it so awesome what you are doing for so many of us. There are no words that can describe just how I felt today when I received your books and letter. I am 52 years old and have been a book lover all my life. I do so love to read. My daughter has taken after me in that respect. Her mother tells me she is always reading." G.N. – Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
"Thank you so very much for the books you picked out for me. My reading is at an all time high. It seems I’m reading non-stop. A warm and trendy thank you – a kiss on your hand and an atta girl for your kindness." S.S. – Avenal State Prison
"I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for blessing us with the books your store has been sending. The packages that you have sent have made a lot of our days just that much brighter. I’ve been in and out of the system since I was 15 years old and now at 31 I can be considered a veteran in the prison game but one thing that never keeps from touching my heart is when people like yourselves show us inmates selfless generosity and goodwill. I personally manage our little library here in two building and with the books that your store has sent us we’ve managed to build a healthy collection of books we can all share and enjoy. Again thank you." S.M. – Wasco State Prison
"I received your letter and books on Friday. I was honestly surprised and happy because I didn’t think I’d receive anything from you guys, but here it is. Oh yes, I was happy because my 21st birthday just passed on the first of the month so I took the books as a late birthday gift. Thank you for sending these wonderful books. They truly made my day." M.C. – Wasco State Prison
"Thank you so much for your kindness and the wonderful books. You know, it’s not just being able to have books to read, but also the receiving of the books themselves that brings the greatest joy to my heart. God bless all of you every day." T.B. – Wasco State Prison
"I have been incarcerated for 5 years and still have a ways to go. I have no family and I’m without any funds. I heard about your book program and wanted to ask you more about it. Reading has always been something that I’ve been fairly good at and while in prison it has always helped pass the endless hours. I was thinking about learning sign language as a way to maybe help others. Would you have anything like that I could self-learn from?" L.A. – Wasco State Prison
"Here at SCC we almost never seem to get access to the library. This doesn’t really matter considering there is very little in the way of books in our library except legal texts. What books the library does have are in pieces and missing large sections making reading them next to worthless. I love to read and find myself, for the first time, encouraged that I might get the chance to read by receiving some books from you. If you can send me some books I thank you very much." J.B. – Jamestown State Prison
"I am doing time in prison. I love to read books. It gets my mind away from the place I am at. Reading books helps me do my time. It is also like a stress reliever for me. When I get stressed out or mad I go into a book and let all my worries just disappear. The only problem I have is that I do not have access to a lot of books. The books they bring to my cell are really old and outdated. Most are missing pages but I still read them because like I said they help me do my time." M.C. – Men’s Colony Prison
"I was wondering if it is possible you could send me a book or two. I’m incarcerated in Wasco and I’ve got a friend that said you might be able to help me out with books. I would not ask but I’m locked down 23 hours a day and we only get a book a month. Sometimes two. And I love to read. I’ve got no money to buy them. If you could please send some it would be really nice. If not, then thank you and you all have a good holiday. God bless every one of you." R.D. – Wasco State Prison
"I am writing to ask about books. I have nothing to offer you. I just don’t have money and am in prison but love to read. The thing is we don’t hardly ever get books here and are stuck in an 8ft by 12ft cell for 23 hours or longer each and every day. Books are the only way to escape the noise and stress from being here. I take full responsibility for being here and my actions. I really hate to burden you with my needs or hopes. I’ll pretty much be happy with anything you can send." K.H. – Wasco State Prison
"You were heaven sent. I received your letter and the next day your books. Thank you so very much. Being in this cell 23 hours a day can really get to a person. I don’t have no one out there in the free world and am pretty much alone in the world. So your books really do put a smile on my heart." B.L. – Wasco State Prison
"I’m doing some time in Folsom State Prison and I wish I was with my family. But I’m doing my time for the past choices I’ve made. But my one true passion is escaping in a good book to release my anxieties and troubles of my life. My one thing that I’m working on is to better myself for a brighter future. So the books that I think would really benefit me in my road to self-enlightenment are books by Napoleon Hill or other books of this nature." D.R. – Folsom State Prison
"I am currently incarcerated in a California prison where I am locked down 24 hours a day. We are lucky to get access to the prison 'library' once very two weeks (if you can consider a person with a cart full of books a library). But one of the guys in my unit gave me this address and said ya’ll send out books. So I thought I’d write cause I could sure use some quality distraction from these cold gray walls." M.S. – Wasco State Prison
"First, let me thank you for the most welcome books that I received from you. I really do appreciate the books, time, effort and postage. I live in Ventura and have intentions of coming by upon release with some books to donate and a cash donation because what you do really does help a lot of people feel cared about and not totally lost to society. Once again, thank you for everything. You are a blessing." B.T. – Taft State Prison
"I am writing to get on your “Escape Through Books” Program. How you are able to do it, or why you would even want to, is beyond me. I just want to say thank you because I think it is a good thing." L.T. – Delano State Prison
"First and foremost I would like to send to you all at The Book Bag my utmost respect and thank yous. I have heard a lot about what you do for people like myself and for that I am thankful. Now you’re probably wondering why I say thank you. I’ll tell you. It isn't often I see people smile in places like these. I mean they do, but I can tell when they are fake and when they are real. Now when these individuals receive books from you the smiles are real and heartwarming." M.R. – Jamestown State Prison
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Copyright © 2005
The Book Bag
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