Through the support of the Diocese of Mississippi, parishes and individuals, The Storybook Project nurtures relationships among incarcerated mothers and their children.
Several times during the year, Storybook volunteers carry books into Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and Flowood Restitution Center, where they record the voices of the mothers reading books to their daughters and sons, and then mail the books and the recordings to the children. During the past year, the program sent well over 1000 books to children.
The Storybook Project has joined with Barnes and Noble Booksellers to host a state-wide book fair from November 6 through November 12 to raise funds to purchase books. Barnes and Noble will contribute a percentage of designated purchases in all Barnes and Noble stores throughout the state and online to The Storybook Project.
A voucher must be presented when making an in-store purchase, or the voucher ID code can be entered along with your order when shopping online. The Storybook voucher code is 11986916. Printed vouchers will be available in Mississippi locations (Gulfport, Ridgeland, and Tupelo), or you can use the one on this page.
By participating in the book fair, you will help The Storybook Project in its efforts to improve literacy skills of both parents and children by giving parents an opportunity to model literacy through reading aloud and by putting books into the hands of children who might not have them otherwise.
Your support will also help to prepare mothers and children for a smooth transition during the return home after incarceration.
In the Book of Common Prayer we read the words, “Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment.
Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison,O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. Amen.”
Your participation in the efforts of The Storybook Project is a wonderful way to “improve the lot” of the mothers and children for whom we pray.
Please mark your calendar to do your holiday shopping at Barnes and Noble between November 6 and 12, make copies of the voucher to share with neighbors, and encourage family and friends everywhere to use the voucher and shop online.
The Rev. Beth Foose is rector of Grace Church/Canton.
