Every year in early December, a group of volunteers come together to pack a hamper for every woman in prison in Victoria.
The group, organised by the Prison Network, carefully arrange items such as shampoo, notepads, colouring-in books and herbal teas in boxes that will be hand-delivered to the women at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Tarrengower Prison before Christmas Day.
Thanks to the volunteers and donations from the community, the group makes sure that every woman inside in Victoria receives some Christmas cheer.
More importantly, Prison Network CEO Amelia Pickering said it is about showing the people in prison that people in the community care.
“It’s such a small token, but the feedback we do get from women inside is that it really matters and they feel seen – that makes it absolutely worth it,” Pickering told About Time.
The volunteers also make sure there’s a handwritten note included in each hamper, saying something like: “I don’t know you but I’m thinking of you and rooting for you.”
The Prison Network has operated for nearly 80 years and first visited women held at the notorious Pentridge Prison. It has been delivering the hampers to women in prison for more than 20 years.
Before the COVID pandemic, this involved packing and delivering more than 700 hampers in Victoria.
This year, this number will be about 400.
Every year in early December, a group of volunteers come together to pack a hamper for every woman in prison in Victoria.
The group, organised by the Prison Network, carefully arrange items such as shampoo, notepads, colouring-in books and herbal teas in boxes that will be hand-delivered to the women at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Tarrengower Prison before Christmas Day.
Thanks to the volunteers and donations from the community, the group makes sure that every woman inside in Victoria receives some Christmas cheer.
More importantly, Prison Network CEO Amelia Pickering said it is about showing the people in prison that people in the community care.
“It’s such a small token, but the feedback we do get from women inside is that it really matters and they feel seen – that makes it absolutely worth it,” Pickering told About Time.
The volunteers also make sure there’s a handwritten note included in each hamper, saying something like: “I don’t know you but I’m thinking of you and rooting for you.”
The Prison Network has operated for nearly 80 years and first visited women held at the notorious Pentridge Prison. It has been delivering the hampers to women in prison for more than 20 years.
Before the COVID pandemic, this involved packing and delivering more than 700 hampers in Victoria.
This year, this number will be about 400.
The Prison Network attends the two women’s prisons in Victoria before Christmas Day to distribute the hampers. They also leave about 20 extra hampers for women who come into the prisons in the days following Christmas.
The content of the hampers is guided by the Prison Network’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel, which advises on what those on the inside may need or want.
“We try to get things that are not easily accessible for the women,” Pickering said.
“Something for the body and something to keep them occupied so they can have a little escape and a moment of feeling like they’re not in jail, with a nice cup of herbal tea.”
This year’s hampers will include shampoos, conditioners and hand creams.
“Everything inside is very bland and doesn’t have much smell, so there’s always something that smells good [in the hamper],” Pickering said.
They also always include herbal teas and coffee sachets, Tim Tams, chocolates, notebooks, pens, colouring-in books and crossword books.
In recent years, the hampers have also included calendars featuring artwork by people in prison or those with lived experience of incarceration, along with popular recipes for on the inside.
The main idea behind the hampers is to make sure people in prison know that those in the community are thinking of them and trying to make life a little better for them.
“Even though it must feel incredibly lonely and difficult and it’s just a small thing, even though you may not be able to always see it, there is a group of people out here on the outside doing absolutely everything we can to shift and change things and make things better for you, and you are seen,” Pickering said.
“While we’re celebrating Christmas on the outside, you’re in our hearts and minds.”
The Prison Network attends the two women’s prisons in Victoria before Christmas Day to distribute the hampers. They also leave about 20 extra hampers for women who come into the prisons in the days following Christmas.
The content of the hampers is guided by the Prison Network’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel, which advises on what those on the inside may need or want.
“We try to get things that are not easily accessible for the women,” Pickering said.
“Something for the body and something to keep them occupied so they can have a little escape and a moment of feeling like they’re not in jail, with a nice cup of herbal tea.”
This year’s hampers will include shampoos, conditioners and hand creams.
“Everything inside is very bland and doesn’t have much smell, so there’s always something that smells good [in the hamper],” Pickering said.
They also always include herbal teas and coffee sachets, Tim Tams, chocolates, notebooks, pens, colouring-in books and crossword books.
In recent years, the hampers have also included calendars featuring artwork by people in prison or those with lived experience of incarceration, along with popular recipes for on the inside.
The main idea behind the hampers is to make sure people in prison know that those in the community are thinking of them and trying to make life a little better for them.
“Even though it must feel incredibly lonely and difficult and it’s just a small thing, even though you may not be able to always see it, there is a group of people out here on the outside doing absolutely everything we can to shift and change things and make things better for you, and you are seen,” Pickering said.
“While we’re celebrating Christmas on the outside, you’re in our hearts and minds.”
We put a call out for messages from loved ones of people in prison across the country, and more than 100 people responded. We hope these brighten your day.
Including smoking being banned in WA prisons, a death in custody at Mary Hutchinson in TAS, a painkiller trial hailed as a success in QLD and more.
Nothing warms my heart more than the selflessness of good people doing good deeds for our sisters and brothers in prison.
The NSW Government has moved to make it easier to find incarcerated people guilty of a “prison offence”, against the advice of independent experts.
Help keep the momentum going. All donations will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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