“It’s a painful reality that so many families are separated in this way,” says Holly Krig, a cofounder of the Chicago Community Bond Fund and Mothers United Against Violence and Incarceration. “When we talk about community safety, harm, and harm reduction, in no way does incarceration, of mothers in particular, in no way does that make anyone safer or improve any lives or make our communities more stable. It profoundly disrupts families and profoundly disrupts communities.”
For those wishing to contribute to the toiletry drive, Krig recommends bringing travel-size shampoos, conditioners, lotions, toothpaste, and deodorant, as well as bar soap of any size. Any items that the jail can’t accept because they’re too large or prohibited from coming from the outside (such as tampons and pads) will be taken to donate to the women’s prisons during next week’s reunification ride. Any items the prisons can’t take will be donated to women’s shelters and social service organizations in Chicago. When asked which items are most coveted, Krig says that fragrant lotions bring particular joy.
