As our founder, Katy Ryan, puts it, “our enthusiasm for sending out books overran our budget.” That is just a nice way to say that we’re broke. We have begun a fundraising letter campaign. Here is the letter that will be sent to potential donors. If you feel compelled to donate, you can do so through PayPal via the link the left, or by sending a check to us at the following address:
Appalachain Prison Book Project/P.O. Box 601/Morgantown, WV 26507
Dear Friends,
We write to you on behalf of the Appalachian Prison Book Project (APBP) in Morgantown, West Virginia. APBP is a community and student organization that provides free books to men and women imprisoned in six states (MD, KY, OH, TN, VA, WV). The Project is staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who have mailed over 8,000 books since 2006.
For the last three years, APBP has benefited from a WVU Public Service Grant that enabled us to pay for postage, our primary expense (approximately $4000.00/year). We are no longer eligible for the grant, which has put a great financial strain on our day-to-day operations. It is possible that APBP will have to close its doors, temporarily or permanently, if we are unable to raise a significant amount of money.
Each month, we send out hundreds of books that impact prisoners, from those who are avid readers to those who are struggling to catch up on their education to those in need of medical information. Take, for instance, a man from Tennessee who wrote to us:
I received books from you over a year ago. I would like to receive more if at all possible. My situation has changed. I have MS and am bound to a wheelchair so I spend most of my time reading. I don’t have anyone on the outside that can help me with finances or packages. You are very special people to do this for us. It transports me to different lands, tests my ability to solve murder/mystery, and laugh at the comedy.
It is our hope that APBP will continue to serve people who so clearly desire the chance to acquire knowledge and information and to improve their lives while incarcerated. To continue our work, we need your help. Donating just $20.00 would enable us to send books to 10 people while a $50.00 donation would enable us to provide books to approximately 25 prisoners. NO GIFT IS TOO SMALL.
To make a tax-deductible donation, please see the website http://aprisonbookproject.wordpress.com.
Thanks so much!