In-Reach Yuletide Update

As many of our readers know, In-Reach Heathen Prison Services is an effort undertaken by The Troth, Distelfink Sippschaft, and numerous individuals who are concerned about the toxic environment to incarcerated Heathens. 

While some states are fairly well advanced in allowing Heathens access to ceremonies, others are still learning what Heathenry is (and is not). For many administrators and chaplains, Heathenry is an enigma, and most of their direct contact is tainted by white supremacism.

Many inmates convert to Heathenry while incarcerated, and the types of materials and individuals who control the discussion often create the inmates' understanding of what it means to be Heathen.

We've been working hard to provide positive Heathen materials to inmates, administrators, and chaplains. We are slowly beginning to see some successes.

Starting tomorrow, In-Reach is conducting its first Yule ceremonies in New Jersey with chaplain and administration support. The ceremonies will be in six compounds in three facilities. 

Hail to the gods! Hail to the goddesses!

Updates

An updated Inmate Checklist is now available in .PDF format.

The file is located to the right in the "In-Reach Files" section.

Also, the database has been constructed, and we're transcribing responses from the forms. We have had a burst of inmate requests from several facilities. Please see the Open Requests page for information.

Phoenix Pagan Pride Day Book Drop

Phoenix Pagan Pride Day will be held on November 10, 2013, at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012 in the area by the Amphitheater on the south side of the pond in the middle of the park. 

Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The book drop will be at The Troth booth.

Thank you all for your ongoing support!

In-Reach Heathen Mental Health Facility Services

Beginning in October 2013, Distelfink's In-Reach will begin contact and visitation in another type of institution in which there are Heathens in need of a religious presence: mental health facilities.

More information will follow.

Upcoming Book Drops

Two In-Reach Book Drops on October 5:

South Jersey Pagan Pride Day at the Distelfink/Troth table.

Heemet Fescht at Kutztown University at the Distelfink/Troth table.

List of most needed titles: http://in-reach-heathen.blogspot.com/p/needed-titles.html

Thank you!

Greater Pittsburgh Pagan Pride Day Book Drop

Distelfink and The Troth will both be present with tables at Greater Pittsburgh Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the Irish Center, 6886 Forward Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Please see the list of Needed Titles and donate if you have some to spare!

Book Donation Drop

Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day brought in some great book titles that we're now distributing. Thank you!

Another opportunity for book donations is coming up on Saturday, September 7, at Southern New Hampshire Pagan Pride Day, Veterans' Park, 889 Elm Street, Manchester, NH. 9:30-6:00. The drop location is the Frithstead's information booth.

Donations to In-Reach through Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day

The generosity of the Heathen and Pagan community can be astounding. Already some donations have come to us containing Heathen titles that are in high demand an in high need. 

We have received a few books that will be of interest to the wider Pagan community, too, and we will be distributing those to prisons through allied networks.

Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day is on Saturday, August 31, 2013, in Clark Park in Philadelphia. Donations will be accepted in person at the park, and will always be accepted after that by making arrangements with us by contacting us.

Thank you all for your generous donations!

In-Reach Heathen Prison Services

In-Reach Heathen Prison Services is currently a joint effort by The Troth and Distelfink Sippschaft. 

The Troth's official statements regarding In-Reach will be posted on The Troth's In-Reach page, and Distelfink's official statements about In-Reach will be posted here and on other Distelfink sites.

Currently, The Troth is handling the network of Mail Handlers and building a community of Visitation Representatives and Visiting Clergy for In-Reach. The Troth has volunteers in several states doing responding to the mail. In some cases, the visitation is being conducted directly as a result of inmate or Chaplain interaction with The Troth. In other cases, local individuals or kindreds are conducting the work autonomously. 

Distelfink is the kindred in which In-Reach was initially founded, and we continue some of our work autonomously. However, as The Troth is better suited to be able to handle a program of this magnitude, we see our role in the future as being a facilitator for In-Reach efforts. Several of our members are active in In-Reach for Distelfink and for The Troth, and it will remain that way going forward, but the overall program administration will eventually be turned over to The Troth.

In-Reach is growing rapidly, and there is a clear need for positive Heathen messages and materials to be presented to incarcerated Heathens. Please see the In-Reach Charter page for more information.

The need for donations will continue. In-Reach will distribute Heathen book donations and distribute to them to the facilities in which we work. We will also accept Pagan book donations and distribute them through local allied networks. Please see the Drop-Offs page for current locations to make book donations.