SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- A new policy that restricts families from sending care packages to New York State inmates drew protestors to downtown Syracuse.
Members of the nonprofit organization, Citizen Action of New York, and others gathered in front of the Senator John H. Hughes State Office Building in downtown Syracuse on September 27 to bring back care packages.
According to the Associated Press, the new policy prevents friends and family from being “…allowed to mail boxes of goodies unless those come directly from third-party vendors.” This policy was put in place in efforts to keep illegal contraband outside of jails.
As a result of having to buy goods from third-party vendors, families are faced with the financial burden of not being able to buy from a lower cost. Families who rely on food stamps are impacted severely.
“I panicked basically,” said Liza Acquah, a mother with three sons who are incarcerated. “I can’t afford to send them through the mail for package and handling. I used to use my food stamps to buy extra stuff for my kids.”
Acquah was one of the voices heard at the rally. The inability to use her food stamps and pay for products for a lesser price has raised her concerns especially because of her son Jabari’s health condition.
“Without me being able to send them packages as needed, they can’t get the fresh food and protein that I’m going to say, especially Jabari [needs], because he’s in remission from cancer,” said Acquah.
Another voice heard at the rally was Rhonda Cooke, who attended the rally for a number of reasons. Cooke has seven children, one who lost their life five years ago at 18-years-old due to gun violence, and another has been incarcerated for a year and awaits his trial in March.
“They are inmates but they are human beings” said Cooke. “So they’re in there doing their time for their crime, but they also deserve to have packages and not to have it taken away.”
“The prices are out of peoples range and they don’t take food stamps so there are so many people across New York State that are not going to be able to send their loved ones packages,” Cooke said.
Cooke said that this change of policy and absence of packages makes family members feel as though there is nothing they can do to help their loved one who is incarcerated.
Cooke also mentioned how this change has made it more difficult to give money to her son.
“If they’re going to make us use our money to buy their food where we used to use food stamps…[the inmates are] not going to be able to get everything that they need, it’s just getting too expensive,” said Cooke.
Donnita Sharp, a woman who attended the rally said, “It’s already bad enough, you’re in there by yourself, feeling lonely. And having these packages taken away can affect the person mentally, psychologically and in many ways.”
Many of those who attended the rally urged the public to fight with them and express their concerns at town hall meetings.
