This week’s Sunday Read brings together poetry, shared books, transformation, remembrance, and a candid conversation about addiction inside prison—along with updates from the Adopt an Inmate hive and our upcoming 10th Annual Volunteer Weekend.
Melissa Bee
Our 10th Annual Volunteer Weekend Is Almost Here!
Our 10th Annual Volunteer Weekend—Bee Fest 2026—is coming August 7–10. Help us raise $1,000 for volunteer meals, project supplies, and, if funding allows, small appreciation gifts for the people donating their time to this work. Donate or share the campaign today: https://givebutter.com/QTYbGt
“Do You Need Help?”: Addiction on the Inside
On this episode of “40 Minutes With 40”, founder “Free,” and an anonymous guest known as “Black” discuss addiction from inside the Virginia DOC. From the fentanyl crisis during COVID to the “Paper” taking hold, today, Free and Black talk about the impact of drug use, the draw, and alternatives we can implement to better support addiction recovery among the DOC population.
Maurice Was Here
Maurice was one of Adopt an Inmate’s earliest adoptees. Four years after his death in federal custody, an old letter reminded us of the joy he felt when someone finally chose to write—and why every person deserves to be remembered by name.
From Incarceration to Impact: Three Books by Dr. Eric Burnham
While serving a life sentence in Oregon, Dr. Eric Burnham earned his PhD and transformed decades of study, reflection, and lived experience into three books addressing addiction, trauma, emotional intelligence, and healthier relationships. As he approaches a parole hearing this September, we are proud to share the work he has created to help others heal and grow.
Shared Reading with Adopt an Inmate
Inspired by Teddy reading Theo of Golden aloud to his cellmate, Ai is introducing shared reading recommendations to help adopters and adoptees connect through stories — one of the few gifts that can still cross prison walls.
Your Sunday Read | June 14, 2026
This week was spent assembling things. In my kitchen, that meant cabinets, drawers, and a borrowed nail gun. At Adopt an Inmate, it meant reviewing the completed handoff of our new matching application. In both cases, things are beginning to look less like piles of parts and more like something that can actually be used.
Your Sunday Read: The Monday Edition
Sometimes a Sunday Read becomes a Monday Read. This week, the delay came with progress: our new Volunteer Calendar & Events page is live, Letters From Prison: In the Classroom continues to grow, Bee Fest planning is underway, and after a year without a kitchen, we’re finally welcoming new cabinets. Come catch up on what’s been happening around the hive.
Come Work With Us: Monthly Volunteer Sessions at Friends Church
Adopt an Inmate now hosts monthly volunteer sessions at Friends Church. Learn how to get involved, view upcoming dates on our public calendar, and sign up to help support our work.
🐝 Bee Fest 2026 is coming!
Every summer, we gather a small group of volunteers, board members, supporters, and friends for Bee Fest - our annual Adopt an Inmate volunteer work weekend. This year's Bee Fest will take place August 7–10 in Veneta, Oregon. and is...