A "Prisoner's Soul" Easter Story ~ God Works in Mysterious Ways

On Easter Sunday 2002, “Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul” was finally available on Amazon.com and released to the public after only being accessible for nearly two years to prisoners through correctional volunteers, chaplains, teachers, librarians, counselors, and other willing staff.

Below is a link to one of the most powerful stories in our book, which is about what happened behind bars one Thursday before Easter.

Feel free to forward, print, copy, and distribute this one-page pfd file (in its entirety) to anyone appropriate.

“God Works in Mysterious Ways” by Mary Rachelski

Appreciating Volunteers

National Volunteer's Week is April 18 – 24, 2010. Recognize and appreciate volunteers with copies of Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul or Serving Time, Serving Others. Quantity discounts and matching grants are available.

Also see the prison volunteer-related pdf file linked below with the story “Positive Influences” and cartoon from our books. Feel free to print and distribute as you see fit. Thanks.

http://www.TomLagana.com/images/PositiveInfluences.pdf

For more information and to arrange Laura Lagana and/or Tom Lagana as the speaker for your event, e-mail: Laura@LauraLagana.com or Tom@TomLagana.com

Books Directly from Publisher for Inmates

Some correctional facilities have rules that books for inmates must be purchased and shipped directly from the publisher. Below are links to order books from our publisher, Health Communications, Inc. Please click on a book cover or the general link for other HCI titles. Thanks.



Click Here for other recommended books published by HCI.

Fundraising Opportunity

Is your group having an event or fundraising opportunity? Consider selling our books on consignment.

We would send a full box of any of the following titles to you. Your group would keep about half the retail cost of the books, send us $7.50 per book sold, and return the remaining books in re-saleable condition. These titles retail at $14.95.

- Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul (24 per box)
- Serving Time, Serving Others (36 per box)
- Serving Productive Time (33 per box)
- Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul (24 per box)

For additional details and to arrange, please e-mail: Tom@TomLagana.com

What People Are Saying About Our Books...

"After reading your book, Serving Productive Time, I have been inspired and motivated to live a better and positive life. I even made a TO DO LIST of goals and things that I need to improve, including getting a Bible and finding my relationship with God. I’m an 'Underground Rapper,' and I used to write and rap about 'negative' things that wouldn’t motivate anybody except for people that do not appreciate life. But your book gave me motivation to send a 'positive' message that will hopefully inspire my listeners to have hope, appreciate life, and for them to know that they are not alone. I think that you two are angels! You’ve touched my heart and changed my life. God Bless You."
- Jeremy, Emporia, Virginia

“I hate the life I’ve led and all the people I hurt. In this bad point in my life, Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul encouraged me to look forward to a better future.”
– Joshua, Florence, Arizona

"I want to take this time to thank you both for being wonderful ambassadors for Christ, and using your time and God-given talents to truly be a conductor of change for many men and women throughout this country."
- John Schmidt, Smyrna, Delaware

“I’m not the same person since I read Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul. It continues to inspire me and other inmates here.”
– Benjamin, Taber City, North Carolina

"Your books are my only way of feeling the Lord's presence in my cell. Thanks for helping me know that I'm not all alone."
- Kelly, Richmond, California

“It’s hard to maintain hope when all around me, all I see is darkness. But when I begin to feel this way, I simply pick up the book Serving Time, Serving Others, and I’m reminded that even in prison miracles do happen . . . that kindness overshadows the dark, and that I cannot ever give up hope.”
- Glenn Wright, FCC-Petersburg, Virginia

"We ordered lots of Serving Productive Time, and we're 'eating it up.' These short, inspirational stories from people 'who have been there' are very helpful to our men and women in King County Jail. With the level of stress, fear about their futures, and the lack of distracting programs, our inmates find the Serving Productive Time, Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul, and Serving Time, Serving Others books to be 'Life Savers' or 'God-Sends.' We are so grateful for them!"
- Patrice Eilers, OP – Seattle, Washington

“The stories in Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul made me feel better, grateful, and not so sad with self-pity. Thanks for remembering us in prison with this book.”
- Kevin, Cumberland, Maryland

“Through Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul, I found hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.”
– Joseph, Suffolk, Virginia

Graffiti Magazine

Our thanks to the folks at Graffiti Magazine for synergizing with us. They have posted some work from our books and will continue to update their website with new material.

Graffiti Magazine gives opportunities for anyone touched by incarceration to submit their work for publication. See their submission guidelines and consent forms on their website:
http://www.graffitimagazine.com/

Laura Lagana - Keynotes at Women's Retreat

My wife, Laura Lagana, will be the Keynote Speaker at the New Covenant Women's Spring Retreat on Saturday, April 10 from 9:00am to 4:30pm at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Wilmington, Delaware 19809. For more info:
Click here for Flyer (pdf file)

Encouragement for Prisoners

Each week, Laura and I receive dozens of letters from prisoners, and we answer them all. Many ask us to send them books, some submit their work for a possible future book, and others simply write for advice or to get things off their chest.

Recently we received letters from two men who are reaching out simply for encouragement. One is incarcerated in Wisconsin and the other in West Virginia.

Anyone interested in sending an occasional note or card will be greatly appreciated. It can be a one-time correspondence, simply signed “Someone Who Cares” or you may sign it however you like.

We recommend that you NEVER share your home address when responding. If you do not have a post office box or an office address to use, you may use our PO Box address below, however we will not be forwarding mail to you that we receive.

This project is simply to encourage inmates who are reaching out. To participate, please e-mail Tom@TomLagana.com asking for the name and address of an inmate who needs encouragement.

Thanks for making a difference.

Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul
PO Box 7816
Wilmington, DE 19803