Hearts of Gold delivers: Giving the gift of books

By Frances Hogg Lochow

A friend in England approached me several months ago with a request to help an expat incarcerated in the women’s prison in Azogues. The woman had no access to reading materials and hoped to have some English language books. I collected several dozen and contacted the director of the prison to ask how I might deliver them and about any restrictions on the types of books acceptable for donation. She said she would pick them up, which caused quite a stir among my neighbors when they saw men wearing bullet-proof vests and carrying automatic weapons standing guard outside my door the next morning.

For about an hour, I talked with Director Maria Belén Cabrera Aguirre about the conditions the women under her care face, and what Hearts of Gold/Corazónes de Oro might be able to do to help them. I found her to be compassionate and concerned. She explained that the women attend classes in the morning but have nothing to do with the rest of their time, resulting in depression, anxiety and boredom. The greatest need was for Spanish language books, as of the one-hundred women in the facility, only four can read English. She said that board games and puzzles would also be welcome.

I took this information to our advisory board. We established the Prisoner Project and we began to approach the community for donations. English books were easy. Finding anything other than textbooks and some magazines in Spanish proved more of a challenge. New paperbacks are very expensive, and now most readers seem to prefer digital books.

Nonetheless, we collected wonderful donations from many, including Ann Fourt, Dr.  Ryan James, the family of Maribel Crespo de Carrasco (who donated their father’s entire library of classical novels and history books), Robert Lochow, and Louise and Don Chavez (who donated a DVD player and DVDS). Others donated anonymously. With your help, we managed to fill most of the bed of a truck with books, games and videos!

Through your generosity, the women receiving these books now have access to a meaningful resource that can support them during their time in prison and as they prepare for life afterward. Every person deserves opportunities to grow, learn, and begin again.