Magazines for the Incarcerated

Magazines for the Incarcerated

Few months ago, I briefly put up a request for old magazines -- specifically food magazines -- that would be conveyed to a local house of detention where incarcerated ladies would, I assured readers, treasure them as they waited, year after year, for a court date, conviction, sentencing....or release.

I quickly had to take the post down at the request of the institution, and so without naming that institution, I'm asking again for such donations. And it doesn't have to be just food-related periodicals. I asked the sad ladies today (sad on account of Mother's Day) what kind of magazines they'd like to see and they added Glamour, National Geographic and Time to the list.

Really, any kind of magazine is fine: the ladies actually spend serious time pouring over Costco Connection.

So thanks to pairs4life, Gypsy Boy, and so many others who gave and who I, at 3AM, am not able to remember. Unloading those magazines may allow you to rid yourself of an albatross, but for those who receive them, it's an incredible treasure, and it's not hard to see why. Imagine yourself locked up all day every day with only the stupidest television and without anything you want to read. These periodicals about food and clothing and normal life are, in a very real way, a connection to a world they want to get back to or a world they will never see again.

My address is 205 S. Scoville, Oak Park. You can drop off mags any time; we have a protected front porch so they won't get wet in case of rain. You can email me first if you like (David@DCHammond.com), but it's not necessary. If you'd rather not drive to Oak Park, I might be able to get them when I'm in your hood, or we can do an exchange at the picnic or even the holiday party. This is not a need that is ever fully satisfied, but the effort to do so is vastly, deeply and continually appreciated.

Thanks.

Did you see Temple's message to you on an email thread earlier this week?
I know she has mags for you but doubt she will drive them to your place. Email her.

I'm having folks over for dinner before the Goodman next month & when they ask what can they bring I will request mags.

pairs4life wrote:Did you see Temple's message to you on an email thread earlier this week?
I know she has mags for you but doubt she will drive them to your place. Email her.

I'm having folks over for dinner before the Goodman next month & when they ask what can they bring I will request mags.

Yes, I responded to her directly (didn't reply all, as it's clear that irks some, ) -- whatever you can collect would be very much appreciated.

LTH is a place for debate and opinion so:

Why the F do you want to make life / incarceration more enjoyable for criminals?

jaholbrook wrote:LTH is a place for debate and opinion so:

Why the F do you want to make life / incarceration more enjoyable for criminals?

Most of these people are awaiting trial, as I made clear in the first line of the original post, so they haven't been found guilty of anything. In the United States, as you may know, one is innocent until proven guilty.

This is not going to become a discussion about the criminal justice system; the only reason I posted my request here is that I thought there were probably a lot of people in the community with food-related and other magazines they'd want to contribute, and that turned out to be the case. Most LTHers have a giving spirit.

This is excellent, I have sooo many magazines and I always feel like throwing them away is such a waste. I take it there's no end date on this collection you're doing?

geli wrote:This is excellent, I have sooo many magazines and I always feel like throwing them away is such a waste. I take it there's no end date on this collection you're doing?

No, it's a forever thing, and thanks Liz.

Hammond,

When you get home check your porch.

Joe

zoid wrote:Hammond,

When you get home check your porch.

Joe

Just got home...WOW. Thanks, man.

In a related story, if you've watched the local news in the past 24 hours, you would have seen the story of one of the people who have enjoyed receiving these contributions. Was just released after eight years, not guilty, forced confession, wrongful conviction.

That's great Hammond!

Every once in a while we get to do a little good in the world, the trick is to keep your eyes open.

I will be dropping off another load at some point soon.

toria wrote:I will be dropping off another load at some point soon.

I'm going out of town for a while, so if you can't make it this weekend, please hold off for a few weeks. Thanks, Toria.

David Hammond wrote:

toria wrote:I will be dropping off another load at some point soon.

I'm going out of town for a while, so if you can't make it this weekend, please hold off for a few weeks. Thanks, Toria.

Crap. Well, in any case, pay no attention to the rectangular depression of disturbed dirt alongside your garden. For about a couple-three-weeks, at least.

To those who've contributed magazines for the incarcerated and know where we live (or even those who haven't contributed but still know where we live), we have a back lot full of dill. I didn't do a garden this year as we're traveling so much, and we have a lot of volunteer dill plants growing on otherwise unused land, so if anyone would like to come by and pick a bunch, please do. There's enough there for maybe 20 potato or tuna salads, some in flower, some not. No need to call ahead; just come by and go to the far west side of the lot and help yourself.

At the Oak Park Farmers' Market this morning, they were selling small bunches for $3.50. This is a better deal.

We spent Saturday cleaning out the garage, and I found a box of food magazines that I'd forgotten were there. Food & Wine & Gourmet going back to the 80s....

If you have any interest in these, I'll gladly set them aside and figure out a time I can get them to you. Given their age, I won't be offended if there's not an interest but thought I'd ask before we pitched them into the recycle bin.

Sure. Thanks for asking. You can email me at David@DCHammond.com if you want to discuss pickup/delivery options.