Dignity Backpack Project seeks donations and volunteers

In Sussex County, when incarcerated men and women leave prison and return to society, they exit with what they possessed when they entered prison, plus perhaps a bus pass. 

If they have no support system on the outside, they must start from the beginning. They must get an ID, which is needed for most assistance and jobs, and also acquire a place to live, clothing and supplies. Something as simple as a backpack to carry belongings and a few essential items such as toiletries, ponchos, notebook paper, pens and pencils, calendar and wallet can help such people start putting their life back together.

To assist those in need upon leaving prison in Sussex County, a group of concerned local citizens and groups has created the Dignity Backpack Project.

Backpacks containing hygiene products, bus tickets, references for services and other requested items will be delivered via The Way Home, a local nonprofit that assists previously incarcerated citizens with their transition back into the community.

To purchase these items, the partners are seeking monetary donations. Partners in this project include the Returning Citizens Support Committee of the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware, The Way Home, the Partnership in Reentry Coalition of Delaware, and the Delaware Center for Justice.

Backpack assembly will take place Sunday, April 6, at UUSD. 

To donate, go to sdarj.org or make checks payable to SDARJ, with Dignity Backpack in the Memo line, and mail to SDARJ, PO Box 306, Lewes, DE 19958.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Jan Kliger, project chair, at jkliger333@gmail.com; Melvin Mitchell, SDARJ representative, at Melvin.m.mitchell@verizon.net; or Paulette Rappa, The Way Home representative, at director@twhprogram.org.