Can you imagine being shut up in a cell without anything to occupy your mind? While several studies show that access to books in prison contributes to lower recidivism rates, many of Georgia’s prison libraries have a limited number of books for inmates. And, after years of zero funding from the state for literacy programs of any kind, most of the books already in stock are quite damaged.

Several parishes across the Diocese, along with some local book clubs and the Smyrna Toastmasters, have teamed up to organize a book drive for the state’s prison libraries. Together they have collected close to 1500 books and magazines which will be distributed to the neediest libraries.

Books will be picked up this Friday, July 12 from St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church in Smyrna.

For more information, please contact Kristine Anderson at 770-435-0208.