Author: Jessica Almeida

LLNE Spring Service Project: Yale Law Library’s Books-to-Prison Program

As part of the LLNE Spring Meeting, the Service Committee is partnering with Yale Law Library’s Books-to-Prison Program.  To date, the program has delivered over 2,000 books to jails and prisons across Connecticut.  They have also provided books to domestic violence shelters and are reaching out to the community to provide books for local homeless shelters and food pantries. 

To donate, please bring new or like new paperbacks (fiction or popular non-fiction) as well as recent law books to the Spring Meeting.  You can drop off your donation at the Service Committee table near registration. 

If you are unable to make the meeting, you can still donate by purchasing books from your favorite bookstore and having them shipped to:

Julian Aiken
Yale Law Library
127 Wall Street, New Haven, 06511

Or you can purchase an electronic gift card through RJ Julia Independent Booksellers and send it to julian.aiken@yale.edu. 

If you have any questions, please contact co-chairs, Jessica Almeida at jessica.almeida@umassd.edu and Kaitlin Connelly at kaitlin.connolly@jud.state.ma.us.

The Service Committee

LLNE Service Project – Ukraine

If you are looking for ways to support the people of Ukraine, the LLNE Service Committee has compiled a few resources for your consideration.  Listed are several local/US organizations that are taking donations to provide food, shelter, and medical supplies. 

A member brought to our attention Olena Gnes, who was our online tour guide during LLNE’s FUNtivities in July 2021.  She gave us an amazing virtual tour of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  Olena is currently living in a bomb shelter with her three children in Kiev.  She posts daily updates on her YouTube channel, What is Ukraine.  If you would like to donate directly to Olena and her family, please consider purchasing a tour through her Airbnb site.

Airbnb users can book stays or tours in Ukraine that they don’t plan to check into as part of an effort to donate directly to people in Ukraine. The campaign (“Pay don’t stay”) allows Ukrainian Airbnb hosts to receive direct support from those looking to help.

Olena’s page: https://www.airbnb.ae/experiences/1930416

This RI organization started by Brown University professors is raising money to send medical supplies to the Ukraine.  For more information, visit https://www.abc6.com/30k-and-counting-raised-for-ukrainians-by-rhode-island-professors/

 Sunflower of Peace Foundation is a Boston, USA-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  They are currently raising money to acquire and distribute first-aid backpacks, medicine, medical instruments to medical personnel in the Ukraine.

World Central Kitchen is distributing meals in Poland to Ukrainians fleeing the country. The organization, founded by chef José Andrés, is seeking donations to provide remote support to Ukrainian restaurants continuing to serve meals for people in need.

Please consider giving to Olena’s family or one of these organizations. 

The Service Committee

Spring Service Committee Project

The LLNE Service Committee is taking the Transcription Party on the road!  We are looking for members who are interested in helping us transcribe documents from the Rhode Island State Archives from the comfort of their home or office.  Here is how you can help:

  1.  Email Jessica at jessica.almeida@umassd.edu to receive 5 pages from the Rhode Island State Archives Suffrage Association collection.  (Want more or less?  Just let us know!).
  2. Check out the following helpful transcription guides: Transcription Tips and Reading Historical Handwriting.
  3. Get transcribing!  Transcribe your pages by typing each word into a Microsoft Word document.
  4. All done?  Send your completed word document to statearchives@sos.ri.gov. (Subject: LLNE Transcription)
  5. If you have any questions at anytime during the process, just email a member of the Service Committee!

Thank you,

The LLNE Service Committee

Jessica Almeida (jessica.almeida@umassd.edu)

Kaitlin Connolly (kaitlin.connolly@state.ma.us)

Nicole Dyszlewski (ndyszlewski@rwu.edu)

Alisha Hennen (ahennen@rwu.edu)