Dear Friends,

At High Desert State Prison, we may not have many of the comforts most people take for granted, but what truly keeps us going is the care and support we show one another every single day. In a place where small things make a big difference, our fellow residents look out for each other, share what little we have, and find ways to lift each others' spirits. The sense of community is priceless. One simple thing that has brought us a lot of joy and sense of normalcy over the years is having microwave ovens in our housing units. With the food we're served being very basic (mostly pea-protein based, no sugar etc.), being able to buy a bag of popcorn, microwavable meal, or cup of soup from the canteen and heat it up ourselves feels like a little taste of the outside world. For the last five years those microwaves have been running almost nonstop during dayroom--they're hands-down the most appreciated item we have. Right now, after years of use all but one has burned out, and the last one is on its final days. Because of severe budget cuts, the prison isn't able to replace them. Losing them would take away one of the few small pleasures that help make each day brighter. That's why we are reaching out with hopeful hearts. If you're able to help, we would be sincerely grateful for any donation - no matter the size - toward our goal of getting two new microwaves for each of our five housing units (10 microwaves total). Even a single microwave would mean the world to an entire housing unit of people who have so little.

Your kindness would not only give us a practical way to warm up our meal or snack - it would remind every one of us that there are still people on the outside who care. From all of us here, thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for any support you feel moved to give. It truly means more than words can say.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Residents of High Desert State Prison

Any remaining donated funds after the purchase of microwaves will be allocated to support inmate education and rehabilitation programs.