Toys collected for the Veterans’ Toy Drive in the SQ visiting room It was toys and smiles all around as dozens of children came to visit their dads in San Quentin State Prison at Christmas-time. “It’s all about the kids,” said Tony Burch, vice chair of the veterans group that sponsored the Toys for Tots event in its thirtieth year. “I just love to see the expressions on the faces of the kids,” said Army veteran Garvin Robinson, long-time secretary and treasurer of the Veterans Group at San Quentin. Robinson admitted that sometimes … [Read more...] about Veterans’ toy drive is “all about the kids”
10th annual San Quentin CARES “Walk for a Cure” builds community
Community members, volunteers and San Quentin inmates joined forces the first weekend in October to fight breast cancer at the 10th Annual “Walk for a Cure.” The two-day event featured live music, personal messages, poetry and prayer to entertain and inspire about 100 participants. SQ CARES - Volunteers and organizers on Lower Yard The inmate-run program San Quentin CARES (Compassionate Accountability Responsibly Expressed through community Service) organized the “Walk for a Cure.” SQ CARES is a committee of a dozen inmates and four … [Read more...] about 10th annual San Quentin CARES “Walk for a Cure” builds community
Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ
Decades ago, in the midst of preaching the gospel, Pastor Tom Pham exited the podium, hopped onto a motorcycle and escaped the scene as the Vietnamese authorities approached. If caught preaching, he would face incarceration for violating laws prohibiting religious services. Now, he sits in prison, once a week, with his colleagues sharing the gospel with the men inside. Pastor Pham said God called him to San Quentin five years ago. He came to San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel as a guest and met several of the incarcerated Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ