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Newsletter Vol. 3
Staying in Closer Touch
December 01, 2024
Help us support families on Giving Tuesday!
Imagine the joy and comfort of a child hearing their parent read them a bedtime story, even when they can’t be together. You can help make this possible. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, SICT will participate in Giving Tuesday to raise funds to purchase and mail books and recordings to children of incarcerated family members in Washtenaw County. Our goal is to help families stay in touch and encourage a love of reading and connection. Staying in Closer Touch is a volunteer operation that relies solely on donations and grants. Your donation will help us buy books, mailing and art supplies, postage and organizational materials. A gift in any amount will help make it possible for mothers, fathers and grandparents to read to their children again. Thank you!
 Mothers at Huron Valley selecting books to read to their children. |  |
“This program means a lot to us moms who don’t get to spend time with our children. They love the books and always ask if they can have more.”
Fundraising 101. You have to ask to receive.
by volunteer Quincy Northrup
Do your friends know what you are passionate about? Close friends usually do know because you keep telling them. But others, your book group, your Pickleball friends, people at work don’t always know. This Fall, I was lucky to have the perfect platform to let people know what was important to me. My church, Ann Arbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation, dedicates the Sunday collection to a group which is the special interest of one of the church members. I had the opportunity to explain my passion, what I do personally to act on it, and ask those in the congregation to help us finance the work that we do.
They gave.
Incarceration happens to people for different reasons. Many are parents of children under 18. Losing touch with their children is very hard. It leads to frustration, anger, sadness and broken trust. At SICT we seek to keep the bond alive by making it possible for mothers, fathers and grandparents to read to their children using the power they have–their own voices, to express their love and longing to be with their kids again. The books are then sent to the children, with a QR code which allows the child to hear their parent’s voice reading to them from the book. We raise money to buy books, to package and mail the books, to keep this essential community of parent or grandparent and child in their hearts and minds.
Do you have a congregation or organization that would like to hear about SICT’s Mission? Let us know at [email protected].
New Volunteers!
We are grateful to welcome Alexia Zaffarano, Jennifer Young, Malisa Harriott, Carol Wang, Logan Linwood, Brooklyn Porter, Jordan Shepard, Lauren Jules and Esther Shon as new volunteers.
 Judy Lobato lives in Scio Township with | Why do you volunteer with SICT? I volunteer with SICT for reasons that sound sappy and when I write the words don't express the depth of feeling Because I know that for the grace of God goes you or I; because I believe in the Beatitudes; because I am an educated person and I see and hear the stories about the justice system and how people aren't't always treated fairly, and because keeping a family together is one of the most important things we can do to help society. What is your favorite thing about volunteering? What I like best is that I hope I am bringing joy into the lives of the ladies we serve. When we are in the Activities building room, it is a joyous get together. It is rare for someone to cry - most of the time the ladies are happy to be able to send something to their child and are over the top happy that their child will hear their voice. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I spend a lot of time walking with friends (come join our Tuesday morning group to walk between 3 and 7 miles) and walking dogs at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. What is your professional background or expertise? I am a retired medical technologist who tells everyone that when you are retired, "everyday is Saturday". |
Author Tara Michener and SICT volunteer Jan Brimacombe at Ann Arbor Community Bookfest.
How You Can Help
Get involved
We have many positions for both direct work in the incarceration facilities and with administrative support to programs. The latter you can do right from your couch (with a laptop). Go to stayinginclosertouch.org/ and fill out the volunteer form. While we always need prison visitors, our greatest need currently is for data tracking and recorders.
Donate
Visit https://stayinginclosertouch.org/support-donate/ and make a gift to help build the resources of our programs
Visit our Wishlist
Our Amazon Wish List is one way to help.
In a book group?
Encourage the members of your book group to donate funds for books.
Let your faith community know about our work
This is a terrific resource of caring people who can contribute funds and/or volunteer
