2019 End of Year Fundraiser

This past year alone, NYC Books Through Bars has sent out tens of thousands of packages of books to incarcerated individuals who have written to us with a request (see examples of letters here). This could not have been done without the continual help of our supporters, whose monetary donations allow us to keep fulfilling every request we receive. We are an all-volunteer collective and nearly all of our funds go to our postage costs. But this year we also made improvements to our space at Freebird Books by upgrading our entrance’s safety for the collective and our volunteers. 

We are holding another end-of-the-year fundraiser to help us to send more free educational materials and books to incarcerated people across the country in 2020! 

Usually our only operating expenses are postage costs, but this year since we needed to improve our space at Freebird, it is more important than ever to have sufficient funds to send free educational materials to all of the thousands of people who write us. This December and January, we are hoping to raise $6000 to cover our operating expenses for January 2020 and what we spent to upgrade our space in October. 

Unfortunately, the carceral machine is highly intact, and on top of that, our country continues to focus on retribution rather than working to educate people and give them the tools to thrive when they leave the prison walls. Though we would love more than anything to no longer have to exist as an organization, the hundreds of letters we receive monthly show how great of a need we continue to fulfill after two decades.

In response to receiving books, we often receive letters telling us that the books we send are shared among many inside and are cherished. In addition, individuals who write us from solitary confinement tell us that reading the books we send helps to alleviate the psychological trauma of their extreme isolation. 

Please consider helping us to support the intellectual, political, and emotional health of thousands of incarcerated people this December and January.

With sincere gratitude,

The NYC Books Through Bars Collective

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Started in 1996, NYC Books Through Bars is a volunteer-run group that sends free, donated books to incarcerated individuals around the country. 

How it works: Volunteer sessions take place three times a week to match letters sent by individuals in prison with books that meet their requests. See some letters here.

To learn more, visit booksthroughbarsnyc.org.

Thank you for your support!