Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/190797
Sarasota News Leader October 11, 2013 Page 82 much-needed community outreach initiative, because 70 percent of inmates cannot read above a fourth-grade level, and more than 60 percent of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate. With these statistics, it's easy to see how illiteracy is generational, and we're hoping that this program can help break the cycle of illiteracy with this demographic." enable community volunteers to help record the inmates reading those books aloud at the jail, the release notes. Over the next several weeks, inmates will be making such recordings. Then, on Nov. 16, their children will be able to come to Selby Library in downtown Sarasota to get CDs of those recordings, along with library cards and free copies of the book. That way, they can read along as they "The Sarasota Police Department is looking listen to their parents' recordings, the release forward to working with the Inmate Ministry explains. Foundation," said Bonner in the release. "This is an outside-the-box approach to improving Sarasota County Area Transit will provide bus tickets for the children and their guardliteracy and protecting our children. This proians so they can get to the library, the release gram involving the book, Let's B Safe, also continues. helps children learn how to recognize sexual predators and how to respond in a safe man- This is an ongoing program, the release points out, with plans for it to be offered to inmates ner," he pointed out. quarterly. To donate to the program, participate The Inmate Ministry Foundation relies on or volunteer, contact Dave Norris at 704-2312 donations to help purchase books and to or email DLNORRISBLA@AOL.COM. % Capt. Lucius Bonner (left) and Chief Bernadette DiPino (right) of the Sarasota Police Department present a $1,500 check to Brenda Zofrea of the Inmate Ministry Foundation. Contributed photo