DISMAS HOUSE:   In the spring of 2009, there are over 120 people in our correctional facilities, who have completed their sentences, but who are still incarcerated because there is no housing available to them.  One superb answer to this problem is Dismas House, which provides transitional housing, for selected people re-entering society.  Their mission is "to reconcile prisoners with society and society with prisoners," and they do a great job.  There are now Dismas Houses in Burlington, Rutland, and Winooski, with work underway to, hopefully, start two more in Vermont.  When someone becomes part of a Dismas House family, they are presented with a backpack of essentials.  Below is a list of items needed for this, and we hope you will encourage your church members to get items to your Annual Meeting delegates so that they can bring them to Annual Meeting and leave them at the Prison Justice display.   This is the list of what goes into Dismas House backpacks.  Comb, laundry soap, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner (for females), deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, shaving cream, alarm clock, flashlight, and, when available, socks, phone card, Kleenex.)   CAMP AGAPE:   This camp, supported ecumenically, provides a wonderful, healthy, supportive camp experience for children who have an incarcerated parent.  Each child is given a backpack, when he or she comes to camp.  This year, we of the Prison Justice Committee have pledged to provide 80 bath towels, 80 beach towels, 80 4-battery flashlights, and 320 batteries.  It would be wonderful if members of your church could bring any of these items that they would like to donate, to your Annual Meeting delegates, so that they can bring them to the Prison Justice Display at Annual Meeting.     Please encourage folks in your church to support these important ministries.