This is one of the BEST programs we were able to bring to the jail. We are so incredibly grateful to the generous donor who provided Seeds of Empowerment (SOE) the funding to bring Aunt Mary’s Storybook program to Erie County Jail. We are a very small, newer non-profit that has been successful in bringing programs like this and human trafficking presentations & awareness events to the community at no cost thanks to the generous donations of heartfelt community members who believe in our mission and our cause. Mr. Durrah’s testimony is a beautiful sentiment of the importance of family connection regardless of the circumstances surrounding separation and the impact of community engagement. There is no greater gift than hearing the voice of a loved one. We were so fortunate that we found Companions Journeying Together, Aunt Mary’s Storybook and Scott McWilliams, not to mention again, the generous, unsuspecting donor who graciously donated to SOE just before Christmas last year, allowing for us to be able to fund this meaningful program. Literacy is a gift that keeps on giving. Clearly, it is apparent from this beautiful & equally powerful testimony that this story continues to give a year later in his writing, his communication with his son, his loved ones and now in his communication with the community. Very much looking forward to the next session and the hope of restoring additional family connections, while inspiring a lifelong love for reading, learning & meaningful change. Thank you Brad Downing for sharing, for being a part of our dream team and for all that you do, our community and humanity in general, is better.