Delivering Hope Packs

The morning of December 19, 2024 started as we found ourselves in the truck, pulling a 24 foot trailer filled with Hope Packs for 4400 residents at correctional centers in Jefferson City, MO. We were able to provide the Hope Packs through donations from 2 Second Mountain board members. In November, we traveled to Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, the community that organizes Hope Packs for every resident in Illinois, plus several other states and locations across the globe. So as we found ourselves driving across MO on a sunny December day, it dawned on us the importance of what we were doing.

After nearly 3 hours, we pulled up to the sally port at Algoa Correctional Center. We had the plans all made, but some communication snafus kept us waiting long after count cleared to get the 2 pallets of Hope Packs unloaded. Meanwhile, we had Chipotle delivered for the GLA group in the visiting room. We ended up waiting for a very long time and by the time we got the trailer unloaded and made it to the visiting room, the group had already eaten without us! But we got settled and Bo spoke to the group about all of his work on their behalf, all of the updates from Second Mountain and the possibility of traveling to Brazil as well as the GLA chapters starting in January. The guys were amazed by the possibilities and Bo also reminded them of the Field Guide for Leaders and the possibilities of work submissions for that. They continued chatting and the group had some questions. We headed out to the main area and the group gathered in front of the chow hall. The staff had a plan for each housing unit to walk down, collect their Hope Packs and head back to their units. The GLA guys had a great time handing out Hope Packs to everyone and we wished everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas and to enjoy a little something extra for the holidays. Everyone was really appreciative and the guys joked around by competing to hand out the most bags. We finished about 2:00, chatted with the wardens a bit, and headed over to JCCC.

Kyle Kempker joined us at JCCC as well and we entered the facility and got checked in. We waited for the Chipotle order for the GLA for JCCC and everyone helped us get the food and get everything set up in the visiting room. We joined the GLA guys who were there waiting for us and we chatted with Warden Morriss while the COs set up the food and got everything ready for the dinner. They were really helpful and did a great job getting everything ready for the group. Bo made a few announcements to the group and Abby used a funny moment to remind him to introduce her. It definitely broke the seriousness of the moment and Bo finished his remarks and invited everyone to start eating. We chatted with Deputy Warden Narvaez and while the group moved through the line, Director Strid and the zone supervisor, Earl Dye, arrived. We spoke with Mr. Strid and one member of GLA, Rob, thanked us for the meal. He said it had been 17 years since he had avocado and it reminded him of a lot of great memories with his Abuelita. Other guys also talked about how long it had been since they ate steak and all of the food really filled everyone up! I went around and handed out more chips as everyone ate their rice bowls. Most members of the group had been incarcerated longer than Chipotle has been available! While everyone ate, we chatted with group members and had some great conversations. One member, Gary, asked us how our relationship changed. We explained the differences and also knew that everyone would read a little about that from our Armor article about marriage, but it was also a great idea for another piece. 

Everyone finished eating and we split into 2 groups to begin handing out Hope Packs. Before we arrived, they delivered the appropriate number of boxes to each housing unit. We walked around to the units which were all locked down, meaning that everyone was locked in their cells. JCCC is much more like a TV style prison with 2 tiers in each unit and sliding doors that can all be released by COs in a control room. As we entered each unit, the GLA group members would run around with boxes making sure that every resident received a pack. They worked together seamlessly hollering out the number of packs needed, spreading them throughout the unit and wishing all of the residents a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with a little something extra and a prison specific Armor book. Most of the units were exactly alike, but a few of the units were specified for certain residents. On one unit, one of the residents yelled, “Thank you Global Leadership Academy. You guys are the best!” The college unit, where most of the residents enrolled in college live, had a massive mural on the wall with a prison scene, a phoenix, and a quote about the mythical birds. It was completely amazing and unlike anything we had seen before. When we visited the unit for some of the residents with severe clinical mental health issues, there was one resident who had been using the phone in a secluded, gated area. He was so excited to get his Hope Pack and while he looked through the bag, Bo chatted with him. He was really grateful and asked Bo if he was a chaplain. On this unit, the COs had to open the chuck holes individually for the bags to be passed in. We also visited Ad Seg as the final unit. Bo spoke with 2 residents there, one of whom had been in Ad Seg for 11 ½ years. This was near the end, as it was the final housing unit and was a really emotional experience for Bo. We had been walking around the camp for 2 hours and Bo’s new knee was very overworked. We headed back to the visiting room and everyone looked like deer in the headlights! They just kept bubbling about what an awesome experience it was and how grateful they were for the opportunity. They felt so great about serving their community and everyone was so appreciative. At Algoa, one of the comments we heard was that anything that breaks up the day or is different in any way is extremely valuable. Every day in prison is the same, so things that bring change really make a difference. We left the group and headed out to the parking lot. We processed a little bit with Deputy Warden Kempker on our way back out to the truck. It was an amazing day and refilled our cups as we saw the difference that Second Mountain is making. We could see the people and converse with them as we witnessed them feeling better about their lives because of our work. We could also see and feel the culture change as it occurred in both facilities. It was an amazing and overwhelming experience and is clear evidence of the change that Second Mountain is making.