Happy Sunday Monday, Friends 🐝,

Sometimes a Sunday Read becomes a Monday Read. Partly because WordPress happened. Partly because painting happened. Partly because cabinet delivery preparations happened. And partly because I continue to discover that I can only do one thing at a time, despite repeated attempts to prove otherwise.

My life is currently held together with painter’s tape and optimism.

The good news is that the delay came with progress: our new Volunteer Calendar & Events page is now live, event registration is up and running, and after a year without a kitchen, we’re making serious progress!

I’d call that a fair trade.

Here’s a peek at what we’ve been working on ⬇️.

Monthly Volunteer Sessions at Friends Church. We are so grateful to Eugene Friends Church for providing us with space for monthly volunteer gatherings.

New Volunteer Calendar & Event Registration Now Live. Spurred on by the above, we have created a public-facing Adopt an Inmate calendar, so you can see what we’re up to. Events marked with a 🐝 in the title are open for signups, using the button above the calendar.

Our Letters From Prison: In the Classroom initiative continues to grow, connecting students with the voices and experiences of people inside. We believe education, empathy, and human connection can change the conversation, and we’re excited about the partnerships already taking shape.

Bee Fest 2026. Most people see the finished work.
The letters and applications arrive & are processed.
The connections that are made.
The university partnerships.
The new programs.
The lives touched.
What they don’t always see are the volunteers behind the scenes making it happen. Every summer we bring those volunteers together – to plan, collaborate, solve problems, share ideas, and do a whole lot of work in support of the people we serve.

We’ve launched a campaign to help cover gathering expenses. If you’d like to help support the hive, you can do so here.

You can find the details of all of the above on our blog page.

🏠 Kitchen Corner

One year ago our kitchen was torn apart by water damage. Tomorrow the new cabinets finally arrive. Then we get to assemble them. Ourselves. 😱

We’ve spent the past year cooking with an egg cooker, washing dishes in the bathroom sink, and balancing colanders in the bathtub for larger pots and pans. And ordering takeout. Lots and lots of takeout.

The experience inspired Leah and me to create a “Prison Cooking” video series using only the tools available to people inside. I’m still trying to get my hands on a hot pot so we can do it authentically. Watch for those videos soon!

After a year of construction dust, detours, and workarounds, it finally feels like we’re turning a corner.

Thanks for buzzing by, and for all the ways you keep our hive humming. 🧡

With gratitude,

—Melissa 🐝

A question for readers:
What’s the longest home project you’ve ever lived through? Share with us in the comments below.

Quote of the Week:
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” — Vincent van Gogh

💌 Donate Stamps – SOS: Stamp out Silence!
✍️ Take the Quiz – How much do you know about U.S. prisons?
❤️ Give – Help us keep breathing together
🗣️ Add Your Voice – Submit your responses to our Good, Bad, Change poll
⏩ Forward This Email – Someone needs to see this