While this year has been full of immense challenges, it has also been full of profound generosity and gratitude. Today we have some powerful messages of appreciation to share with you.
Eighteen months ago, in the face of the challenging prison conditions brought about by the pandemic, Mount Tamalpais College sent care packages to everyone incarcerated at San Quentin. A year and a half later, thanks to an incredible outpouring of support, we have now provided packages to nearly every state prison in California, totaling over 100,000 packages. We will reach them all by the end of this year.
To date, we have received several thousand letters from care package recipients, as well as emails and phone calls from their loved ones, expressing gratitude and hope in response to this simple act of caring. Today we want to share with you excerpts from some of those letters.
We are also very happy to be able to share a thank you video that was made by MTC student Jesse Rose, for all our donors and care package team members. Jesse is also part of FirstWatch, a filmmaking program in San Quentin State Prison.
The deepest of thank yous from the entire MTC staff and community.
To donate to the college program, visit our giving page here.
“Please know that me, my celly, and everyone else really appreciate the packages that the friends of the college program put together. They came at a time when we really needed some uplifting. What really made me feel good is the reaction my celly had when he read the letter and realized it came from the college program here at SQ. Now he can’t wait to get his GED so he can go to college. “ -Brian Asey
“I want to say thank you on behalf of myself and all of the inmates who received one. Again thank you. I’ve never seen so many men in jail happy. Y’all put a smile on people’s faces in these hard times. When we get unexpected mail it’s because COVID 19 killed a loved one or friend but to get a package from people we don’t even know gives us hope to look forward to brighter days.” – Bobby Braggs
“When I was called up to receive my care package I had no idea that it wasn’t just a care package but my answer to a prayer. The joy and elation I felt from receiving my package was uplifting. To know that there are those that exhibit such kindness and selflessness to prisoners like myself sparks a hope in me that the last year or so had dimmed so blatantly.” – Phillip Long
You can find more messages of gratitude from care package recipients here.
