Sudbury's Congregation Beth El helping women rebuild their lives after prison

SUDBURY, MA — Three cars full of donated supplies pulled up to a house in a Boston neighborhood on a recent Saturday, completing six months’ work by Elaine Barnartt-Golstein and other members of Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley to open a home for women who have just been released from prison.

Last winter, Barnartt-Goldstein contacted Stacey Borden, director of New Beginnings reentry services, for ideas about ways they could assist women trying to rebuild their lives after prison. With the help of Beth El’s Anti-Racism Working Group, Barnartt-Goldstein organized a collection of household goods and arranged for drivers from the temple to transport the items to Women Empowerment, a home that will offer programs to previously incarcerated women.

The group offered furniture, but Borden had said they had enough already, so donations included office supplies, kitchen wares, rugs, wall-hangings and an African drum. The donations were well-received, Barnartt-Goldstein said.

Women Empowerment house, Borden said, will open as soon as the group receives an occupancy license, and the organization intends to offer services to women leaving prison or out on bail. Many have experienced trauma, which may lead to drug use, then to law-breaking. Many previously incarcerated women are at risk of homelessness. Read More HERE