During a conversation with a former San Quentin inmate several years ago, I sought guidance on the most impactful ways to support incarcerated individuals. He shared a profound insight: the greatest gifts are those that alleviate the profound lack of financial resources and emotional connection. Loneliness, he underscored, is a pervasive and deeply isolating experience within prison walls.

The meager wages earned by incarcerated workers, typically ranging from 12 to 40 cents per hour, severely limit their ability to meet basic needs. Our champions (inmates), compelled to fund communication expenses – email, postage, and higher-quality hygiene products, as well as the exorbitant costs of video and phone calls, face substantial financial strain.