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First Posted: 7/16/2014 To those who have nothing, like many in the county prison, small items like hard candy, a ball point pen or a bottle of shampoo are a big deal, according to Project Re-Entry Prison Ministry Coordinator Anna Young, of Scranton.
Some of them have never been given anything,&#8221; Young said. &#8220;They have no family, or they have no money. They had nothing to look forward to until somebody told them that we would be coming and that we would be bringing a treat for them. That&#8217;s how much that means to them, because when we have so much, that little bag of candy doesn&#8217;t mean anything, because we can go to the store and buy as much candy as we want. But if you don&#8217;t have anything and you&#8217;re in prison, you&#8217;re not going to get anything.&#8221;
That is why this month most Lackawanna County Library System libraries, including Abington Community Library, Dalton Community Library and others are collecting donations for Project Re-Entry&#8217;s Christmas in July celebration.
Specific items sought for donation, which will be given to women in the Lackawanna County Prison, include individually wrapped candies, such as Lifesavers, hard candy or mini-candy bars; women&#8217;s socks, soap, VO5 or Suave shampoo. toothpaste, BIC stick pens and greeting cards. The collection ends July 31.
Abington Community Library Director Leah Rudolph said this is the second year that library is participating in the project, which she believes to be &#8220;very encouraging&#8221; to those on the receiving end.
&#8220;At Christmas, people tend to reach out and give to people,&#8221; she said, &#8220;mostly through Toys For Tots and other organizations, but this is like a little mid-year perk for the inmates.&#8221;
Young said the ministry previously took goody bags to the inmates only twice a year &#8212; Christmas and Easter &#8212; leaving them with an extended wait between holidays. Now, with the Christmas in July program, however, they are able to help the women out a third time annually.
&#8220;From Easter until Christmas is a long time for those who don&#8217;t have shampoo and those who don&#8217;t have soap and stuff to wait for Christmas,&#8221; she said.
Project Re-Entry also reaches out to the women in prison with a worship service each Sunday and Bible studies or discussion groups on Thursdays.
&#8220;It&#8217;s just amazing how she has dedicated herself to this cause,&#8221; Rudolph said of Young. &#8220;I was just really touched by all the work that she has done.&#8221;
Project Re-Entry is always in need of volunteers. Those interested in learning more about the faith-based ministry may call 570-342-3627.

Christmas in July in prison