We Carry On

Like other organizations working in prisons and jails, we’ve had a hard time staying connected with incarcerated people during the pandemic. Public health restrictions have prevented us from entering facilities, but we’ve found ways to adapt. For now, instead of incarcerated parents choosing books as gifts for their children, we’re choosing them ourselves. And since we can’t make recordings of them reading, incarcerated parents are writing letters to their children, which we include with the books when we mail them home. This helps preserve vital family connections when people behind bars are more isolated than ever. Please help support our efforts by contributing today.

Donate now

Sponsor a Virunga National Park.

Fusce a ante nisl, vitae pretium enim. Nunc imperdiet iaculis augue nec porta! Phasellus congue sapien eget libero ornare lobortis. Aliquam sit amet nulla velit, in posuere tellus. Nulla ut orci lorem.
SPONSOR A REAL PROJECT Watch a movie

From Virunga Movie Fusce a ante nisl, vitae pretium enim. Nunc imperdiet iaculis augue nec porta! Phasellus congue sapien eget libero ornare lobortis. Aliquam sit amet nulla velit, in posuere tellus. Nulla ut orci lorem. Donec in lectus orci, sed dignissim lacus. Praesent lectus diam, sodales at commodo sodales, hendrerit sit amet justo. Morbi a risus urna. Ut in lorem at nisi ultricies semper? Mauris imperdiet sem euismod ligula pulvinar hendrerit. Ut nisi nulla, consequat iaculis mollis non, fringilla ut justo. Vestibulum pharetra molestie fringilla. Donec elementum ligula sed turpis commodo tristique. Suspendisse cursus posuere eros at auctor. Nulla facilisi. Sed vitae aliquam orci. portfolio3 Ut lobortis, felis sed viverra egestas, sem velit dapibus maur. Fusce a ante nisl, vitae pretium enim. Nunc imperdiet iaculis augue nec porta! Phasellus congue sapien eget libero ornare lobortis. Aliquam sit amet nulla velit, in posuere tellus portfolio5. Nulla ut orci lorem. Donec in lectus orci, sed dignissim lacus. Praesent lectus diam, sodales at commodo sodales, hendrerit sit amet justo. Morbi a risus urna. Ut in lorem at nisi ultricies semper? Mauris imperdiet sem euismod ligula pulvinar hendrerit. Praesent lectus diam, sodales at commodo sodales, hendrerit sit amet justo. Morbi a risus urna. Ut in lorem at nisi ultricies semper? Mauris imperdiet sem euismod ligula pulvinar hendrerit. Ut nisi nulla, consequat iaculis mollis non, fringilla ut justo. Vestibulum pharetra molestie fringilla.

From director Ajojd and executive producer Lioad.

Our Projects

We serve hundreds of imprisoned people and their families through our innovative programs.

Aunt Mary’s Storybook

We record imprisoned parents reading books to their children and send the recording and book to the child.

Cards Project

We send birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas cards to imprisoned people.

Pen Pal Groups

We organize pen pal clubs whose members correspond one-on-one with prisoners.

We’re Looking for Volunteers!

You can help make a substantive change in the lives of incarcerated people and their children.
Our Aunt Mary’s Storybook project works in 6 county jails and 10 state prisons in Illinois and sends
thousands of specially chosen books to the children of imprisoned people each year.

Fill out an application

What Incarcerated People Say

“I really am thankful and appreciative for Aunt Mary’s Storybook program for making it possible for me to be able to reach out and communicate with my loved ones. This program allows me to stay closer to my child and give them somewhat of an intimacy I can’t give them due to my incarceration. Being able to read stories to my child by way of audio from prison really made me feel like I was still fulfilling my responsibilities as a parent.”

What Families Say

“It was an amazing surprise to get home and open a random package, only to find a book, Spot Loves Bedtime, from his father who has yet to be able to hold him. Thank you so much! He’s only 6 months and needed a way to always hear his Daddy’s voice. This is an amazing Project. Y’all made my night and are helping in keeping his voice in our sons life. Thank you again!!”