My Nonprofit Reviews

Strengthening connections between incarcerated mothers and their children through high quality children’s literature may be the main mission of Women’s Storybook Project of Texas (WSP) but the organization does so much more! Children and their caregivers hear the mother’s voice on the recording and read along with the books they receive. In this way, children are comforted and supported by their mothers even though they may not see each other. Incarcerated mothers can begin to heal by recording the books and sending messages of love to their children. Volunteers are supported by the administration of WSP, each other, and the prison system and are given many opportunities to serve both inside and outside the prison units. As a volunteer, I have seen Mother's weep with gratitude and thank the program for giving them a chance to reconcile with their families. I have seen new volunteers awed by the camaraderie of all volunteers as they travel to the prison units, lunch together and debrief their experience on the ride home. I have seen touching letters from children expressing their joy at hearing their mother's voice. WSP is a win for incarcerated mothers, their children and families, the Texas women's prison system, volunteers, and society as a whole.

As a former teacher, university administrator, volunteer and team leader, I can say that Women's Storybook Project is one of the most effective programs I have seen that may help with offender recidivism while affording their children with love, attention, enhanced well being and self-esteem , better reading and writing skills all through appreciation of excellent quality children's literature. I feel so strongly about this program that I have volunteered with them since 2004 and been a team leader of one unit since 2011 and a donor for many years. It is not often that one happens upon a program that lifts everyone up - moms, children, caregivers, volunteers, and the community at large. Women's Storybook Project is one that does just that!

Being a team leader at the Mt. View women's unit in Gatesville, TX has been one of the highlights of my life! Hearing these mothers pour out their love and longing for their children through reading and recording great children's literature and seeing their faces when the children respond makes my day every time I visit. Through notes to our program from the children's caregivers we can know just how important hearing their mother's voice is to the children's sense of well being. We all need to be loved and connected and that is what this program brings to us all.