Meet Evie and Kate, Featured Volunteers for January 2026

Evie (left) is our youngest volunteer! This mother-daughter dynamic duo makes a weekly appearance at BTP to expertly fullfill requests!

What got you interested in BTP to begin with, or what made you start volunteering? Does it tie in to the rest of your life in any meaningful way?

Kate: I  was looking for a volunteer opportunity for my daughter, Evie, and I to do together.  I wanted to instill the importance of volunteering and giving back to your community.  After a lot of research, I ran across Books to Prisoners and thought it sounded perfect for us, we are both voracious readers and we live in the neighborhood! 

Is there anything you especially like about volunteering with us? What are your favorite parts of the process?

Evie: I like being surrounded by books.  I also like trying to answer letters that have multiple requests in them, it's fun to try to get through a pack of 10+ requests. 

Kate: After a day of work using devices, I love that volunteering is totally analog!  I also think BTP is a great community with people always willing to help or interpret handwriting. 

Everybody starts off by responding to letters, even if they eventually move on to wrapping or other tasks. Some of the letters can be memorable. Are there any requests that surprised you, or that you remember standing out in any way?

Evie: The first letter I got was from someone who loved to write, I love to write too, so I was excited to find him books to learn to be a better writer. 

Kate: I love the letters where people tell you a bit about their lives.  I also love it when we get unique requests as it's fun to get creative to find books that might fit.  One of my early letters asked for books on mushrooms, marilyn monroe, cats, bears, Canada, survival skills, and photography. 

In the time that you’ve been here, do you think that your views on the prison system, or what it’s like to be incarcerated, have changed? Please feel free to talk about those views if you would like.

Kate: I don't think it's changed how I view the prison system, but this experience definitely humanizes the people our society locks up.  This experience has also been a great conversation starter for my daughter and I, as she starts to learn more about the world, what she cares about, and the ways she wants to volunteer and protest.

Evie: Yes. I got a letter when one of the people asked for books for his kids and then said he had a life sentence.  I think everyone deserves a second chance and the chance to be free. 

Do you have any book recommendations for us? Is there anything you especially like to read in your spare time?

Evie: The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune and Wonder by R.J. Palacio  - I love to read fantasy and mysteries. 

Kate: I read a lot of fiction.  I love books that make me think about the world in a different way, especially books set in different countries or cultures. Some of my favorite books include James, Northwoods, Gentleman in Moscow, the Thursday Murder Club books, etc.