Women’s Storybook Project of Texas
Our Outreach Ministry of the Month for September is the Women’s Storybook Project of Texas.
Women’s Storybook Project of Texas is a volunteer program started in Austin in 2002. It targets the children of women who are imprisoned at Gatesville prisons. Statistics show that one out of every five children of incarcerated parents also ends up in prison. This project strives to change this statistic by developing strong relationships between mothers and their children.
Trained volunteers meet regularly with offenders who are mothers of children under the age of twelve and record them reading books to their children on tape. The child then receives the copy of the audio tape along with the book. They receive a new book and tape each month for four months and then a new group of mothers is selected to participate.
For the children, the project provides contact and reassurance that their mothers are thinking about them and love them. For the mothers, it is a chance to be a positive role model for their children by encouraging them to read. For both mother and child it is a small connection that can be built upon when the mother completes her sentence and re-enters the child’s life.
St. Matthew’s participation in this project began last year with two volunteers and a donation of children’s books by the Monday Book Club. Our ministry now includes twelve volunteers from St. Matthew’s with others interested in participating. Every monthly taping session requires 4-6 volunteers at each of the units at the Gatesville prisons that we currently serve - Hilltop, Lane Murray and Woodman. In May of 2007 St. Matthew’s supplied all the volunteers at the Lane Murray unit and will do so again in November. In going up as a group, we have a fellowship opportunity that is often missing in our busy lives. We look forward to many more group trips (including lunch at Chez Shell) in the coming year!
If you are interested in finding out more about Women’s Storybook Project contact Pat Yeargain, 343-7048 pyeargain@austin.rr.com.
Previous Ministries:
Women’s Storybook Project of Texas
St. James’ Episcopal School
The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care
Capital Idea and Casa Marianella
Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Honduras International Mission
Alternative Gifts Market
