Shoreline Resettlement Alliance (SRA)/Prison Ministry Report

October 2009

Committee Reports

Prison Mentors – The SRA currently has six mentors. Elaine McNally Fitzpatrick, Gail
Thompson, Wendy Gifford and Paula Baraket are mentors for women discharging from York
Prison in Niantic, CT. David Coulton and Vin Adinolfi are mentors for young men at Manson
Youth Institution in Chesire, CT. I will seek updates from the mentors to include in future
reports.Thursday, October 15, 2009

Prayer Partners – Bev Plyer reported on Jim who is in prison, will be released into a half-way
home in December and will be finished serving time in April. He is an artist and includes
drawings in his letters to the family. Bev asked whether some money could be given to him for
art supplies. Susan suggested she make a request to PAJ. Susan suggested inviting Nancy Mann
to join the Prison Prayer Group. She will contact her. Mart's House will be holding a fund raiser
on Halloween weekend. Irene will send out information for those interested in attending a
luncheon hosted by them. There was silent prayer for mentors and mentees. Meeting adjourned
with prayer.
Submitted by Sandra Weins following 10/15/09 meeting

Hospitality – We will be holding a collection in November to gather items for backpacks, etc.
We will also be visiting Mart's House for a Christmas Tea. At that time, Christmas bags will be
filled for each resident. We will contact Debbie Rogala for ideas.
Submitted by Marcia Myhre

Outreach and Fundraising – Recent activity has focused on getting a Madison resident
involved in the mentor training. First Church allotted funding/expenditures for the past several
years are as follows:
2003---$200 not spent
2004---$100 spent
2005---$100 spent
2006---$300 not spent
2007---$200 spent
2008---$200 not spent
2009---$200 as of May, $83.35 had been spent
Contributions have come to the church specifically for the prison ministry and have
been distributed.
Submitted by Shannon Clarkson

Social Service/Political Advocacy—At our last large-group SRA meeting, Brian Hill and Ed
Meyer reported that the Legislature had appropriated several million dollars for prisoner re-entry

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programs. This was partly in response to the Cheshire murders and the feeling that more needed
to be spent to help transition inmates successfully back in the community. Among the programs
intended to be funded were additional halfway house beds, increased substance abuse and mental
health treatment funds, and supportive housing programs. While some of these programs were
established in late 2008 and early 2009, many of the funds were pulled back in a series of budget
cuts resulting from the state’s budget deficit. Since the state budget was passed in August,
additional cuts from the Governor’s office have resulted in fewer programs available to inmates
releasing from prisons.
Submitted by Brian Hill

Other important information

• As of October 2009, Rev. Murtha is the overall ministerial coordinator of the SRA/Prison
Ministry; Brian Hill is the liaison between the Peace, Affirmation and Justice (PAJ)
committee and the SRA/Prison Ministry; he will be gathering periodical reports from
committees and mentors.
• The next prison groups/congregational meeting is scheduled for 11/11/2009; Deb Rogala
from Community Partners in Action will bring a guest.
• CWC committee asked Susan what to do with the money they have set aside for prison
ministry in the church this year. She told them to use it another way.
• The SRA/Prison Ministry list of committee members and supporters needs to be updated.
Brian Hill will attempt to do this as part of the meeting on 11/11/09.

Compiled by: Brian Hill

Note: The October 2009 update includes information from the past several months.

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