Lara Mack from the Central Appalachian Prisoner Support Network addressed our Wednesday Night Live supper crowd with a great report of the work they’ve been able to offer in connecting dislocated prisoners to distant family. Working with member Willie Dodson, Lara reported that the powerful prison industrial complex supports many state and private prisons in central Appalachia because land and labor are cheap, but these prisons often make money by taking prisoners from as far away as the Virgin Islands, New York City, and even Hawaii. CAPSN works to connect with prisoners and to support those families who can visit these remote prisons with food, shelter, and transportation from as far away as Washington, D.C.
Through Willie and our Mission and Service fund that comes from our contributions, Union Church supports CAPSN, helping defray the cost of transportation for families and providing funds for food for them when they arrive. CAPSN has a list of resources about the prison industrial complex and the ways it affects our area. Those handouts from tonight’s talk can be accessed in PDF format by clicking here:
Prisoner Support Network Handouts
Wednesday Night Live is a weekly supper provided for a small donation. Non-Members and members alike are welcome and the meal begins at 5:45pm. Often we have speakers and programs that inform, inspire, and educate the community on a wide variety of topics. Following the meal and short program, there are classes, choirs, and youth group activities.
Many thanks to Lara and all who work for CAPSN for the good and hard work they are doing, and for being our inspiration this week.
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