I began volunteering with Chicago Books to Women in Prison (CBWP) at the start of 2025, and from the very first packing session, I was struck by how much these books mattered. Requests would come in from women asking for everything from mystery novels to self-help guides, from parenting books to GED prep. Each package felt like more than a stack of pages, it was a lifeline. I saw how reading could ease the weight of confinement, offering not only comfort and escape, but also tools for thinking about life after prison and reconnecting with the outside world.

Out of that experience grew the idea for a book drive, a way to help CBWP keep up with the constant need for donated titles. Together, with my community, we raised over 100 books, each one destined for a woman searching for knowledge, reassurance, or simply the joy of getting lost in a story. The drive became more than a donation effort– it was a way to extend community across prison walls, affirming that access to books is a form of care, dignity, and possibility.