Can You Help?

 Sister Ruth sent this letter.  I hope you can volunteer.

Dear Bethany Community,

 

I write to you with a request from Kathy Dennehy, who now sits on Bethany's Board of Directors. She also sits on the Just Detention International Board of Directors (JDI). JDI is a health and human rights organization that seeks to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention. JDI was one of the primary sponsors of the landmark Prison Rape Elimination Act.

 

JDI's Board and staff work closely with a Survivors Council, a group of individuals who have experienced rape by either staff or other prisoners, to inform JDI's work. JDI's firm commitment is that sexual abuse and sexual harassment of those incarcerated in lock-ups, juvenile settings, jails, prisons, and immigration should never be part of the penalty. Bethany House Ministries shares this commitment. Sadly, while much progress has been made to prevent, detect, and respond to prison-based sexual abuse, the issue of prisoner rape continues to exist. You can learn more about JDI's work on their website https://justdetention.org/

 

Among other initiatives and services: JDI helps prisoner rape survivors, advocates for federal policy, and works directly with correctional officials to change prison culture. Every year, JDI embarks on a Words of  Hope Campaign. JDI sends thousands of holiday cards to incarcerated people across the country. For some people, this may be the only holiday card they receive. Messages can be either long or short-the goal  is to convey compassion and good wishes. Last year, JDI sent over 31,000 cards with compassionate messages.

 

We hope to identify members of the Bethany Community who will assist by either writing a card themselves or holding a card writing party. This year's card, which was drawn by a survivor, is attached.

 

This is how the program works. Volunteers receive a package from JDI. The package includes a bundle of this year's holiday cards, instructions, sample messages, and a prepaid shipping envelop. Cards are signed by first name only and don't include any contact information. Once the cards are written they are to be returned to JDI's Los Angeles headquarters using the prepaid postage. This years' deadline to return cards to JDI is Friday, November 8th. JDI takes care of distributing the cards to incarcerated people across the country.

 

For those in the Bethany Community who are interested in volunteering for this  project. Signing up is very easy. Use this link to go to a signup sheet and then hit submit. You will be asked to commit to a minimum of 25 cards, and provide a mailing address so JDI can forward the package.

 

Here is the link to the sign up form. https://forms.gle/YTZ2fFPP1Ghwucqv7

 

If you have any follow-up questions, you can reach Kathy at kaydennehy@comcast.net