At Folsom State Prison, over 400 incarcerated men generously donated their own funds to ensure the children served by Sacramento Children’s Home had backpacks and school supplies for the school year. Led by a group called the “Men of Character,” they invited their fellow inmates to contribute, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
When asked to participate, one man—let’s call him “Joe”—initially donated $80. A few days later, he returned to contribute an additional $100. When asked what motivated him, he explained that as a child, he often lacked money for a backpack and school supplies. He recalled going to a school where other kids had all the resources they needed, while he often felt like an outsider. In one memory, he recalled taking a backpack from another student. When he brought it home, his dad immediately noticed. “Where did you get this?” his dad asked. “I found it,” Joe responded. His dad looked at him knowingly and said, “Go find three more for your siblings.” So, he did.
Now, by donating his hard-earned funds to local kids in need, Joe can help ensure another child won’t have to face a similar situation.
It is well-known that a high percentage of incarcerated individuals were former foster youth or grew up in low-income families. The “Men of Character” and all who contributed at Folsom State Prison have shown how important it is to support our community’s next generation. They understand that kids in need often face impossible choices, and the more our community can rally behind them, the more these children have a chance to build futures they can be proud of.
With the combined efforts of Folsom State Prison staff and the incarcerated men, a total of $5,526.19 in inmate-donated funds and over 75 backpacks filled with supplies were donated to the Sacramento Children’s Home. We at SCH extend our immense gratitude to these generous individuals who went above and beyond to care for our community’s most vulnerable.
Pictured above: Folsom State Prison Warden Joseph R. Tuggle, Community Resources Manager Breanna Stambuk, Folsom State Prison staff, representatives from the “Men of Character” group, and Micaela Cirimeli, SCH Development Coordinator.
