Flyer from benefit concert in Harrisonburg, VA, that raised about $250 for APBP.

Many thanks to Diana Mazzella for this video project, and to the “star,” Katy Ryan, for her ever-eloquent explanation of the project.

Produced by Diana Mazzella, featuring Katy Ryan.

•  We had a great fundraiser concert at one of Morgantown’s finest venues, 123 Pleasant Street, last week. We raised about $400, or enough to send about 200 books.  Many thanks to the organizers of this event, including Mark Brazaitis, Elissa Evans, Rayna Momen, and Olga Gonzalez, and to LJ at 123 for giving us a great venue for our fundraiser. Performers included Almost Blue, Best Friends, and Haley Slagle & Billy Matheny, some of Morgantown’s finest musicians; we appreciate the time and talent they donated to the cause.
• WVU Law Students are collecting donations for APBP. Law students were very helpful in helping us navigate the course to become an offical, tax-exempt nonprofit, and we appreciate everything they contribute to the organization.
• As mentioned above, in addition to local press, APBP was recently featured in an article published by the Associated Press. Dominique Bruno gave a great interview to Vicki Smith, the article’s author, for the project–be sure to have a read!
• Saturday volunteer packing sessions continue weekly from 10am-1pm in the Aull House on Spruce Street, next to the Morgantown Public Library. Come down and help us out if you feel so inclined!
• As usual, we are grateful to ALL volunteers who help us out in any capacity to make sure that our mission of sending books to prisoners in our service region continues to be carried out, even when we are low on resources. Thanks to all of you!

And thanks to all of you who are checking out our site for the first time today in response to our national press. We appreciate your interest in our project and hope you will stay in touch by joining our Facebook page, subscribing to this blog, or contacting us to be added to our email list. It is wonderful to have friends from across the nation and world!

APBP in the DA, 8/22/2012

Earlier this summer, the United Methodist Churches of the Boothsville charge in Marion County, West Virginia, collected hundreds of books for the APBP and even built beautiful handmade bookcases to help hold them. Pictured below  is Tanya Devine, who organized the book drive, and some of the folks who helped her do it, along with the bookcases while they were still at the church.  The photo above shows one of the donated bookcases in its new location in the APBP office, already loaded with books for prisoners. It’s by far the nicest we have. Thank you, Boothsville friends, for your wonderful generosity to the APBP!

Hi Everyone,

I am happy to announce that the Appalachian Prison Book Project is an official 501c3 organization. The IRS notified us yesterday that our application has been approved.

Many people helped to make this happen, and I want to take a moment to thank them. Last summer, APBP graduate student interns James Holsinger and Dominique Bruno began the long process by preparing paperwork. They were diligent, thorough, and, most importantly, undaunted by voluminous IRS instruction. James and Dominique continued to assist with this process long after their summer stipend had ended. I would never have taken this on without them. Thanks to the WVU Humanities Summer Internship for the student funding and to Dennis Allen who alerted us to the opportunity.

L.G. Corder, a law student with the the WVU College of Law Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, worked with APBP throughout the school year to meet the numerous requirements for filing. In addition to his generous legal assistance (securing fee-waivers for APBP, filing state and federal paperwork, helping us reconceive our organizational structure, telling me exactly what & where to sign), L.G. supported the program personally–and for that I am especially grateful.

Trey Wertz, a corporate accountant with WVU Tax Services, was available for all things financial, and his calm confidence that we could manage this transformation kept me from despairing on several occasions. His expertise and generous spirit have been essential.

Wonderful volunteers have agreed to serve on our board–as directors, officers, and members: Elizabeth Juckett, Mark Brazaitis, Nancy Key, Bob Roberts, Olga Gonzalez, Trey Wertz, Dominique Bruno, Mike Buso, Harrison Case, Bridget Ferris (a student in my first prison lit course in 2004), Jennifer Powell (Asst. Dean of Career Services at the Law School who put us in touch with the law clinic), Harrison Case, and Eric Hopkins. This core group has been unwavering in its dedication to the prison book project. Many, many thanks to each of you.

The same to Angie Iafrate who handles much of our online presence and to members of the student organization of APBP who respond to letters, sponsor bake sales, and spread the word. You are awesome.

As a 501c3, APBP will be eligible for more grants and for discounts (including on postage, our biggest expense.) We have two fantastic English grad students lined up as interns this summer, Mike Buso and Yvonne Hammond, who will be helping with grantwriting, fundraising, community outreach, and volunteer training.

Always my gratitude to the Aull Center and the Morgantown Public Library for our beautiful office space downtown.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have donated books, time, money, and ideas to the project. APBP sends books into prisons. It sounds simple, but the effort requires year-round labor, continuous funding, and always more books. Right now, we have a couple hundred letters that have not yet been opened. If you are interested in joining us, please write to Elizabeth Juckett at appalachianpbp@gmail.com.