Female Offenders Make Backpacks for Local Elementary School

(Goffstown, N.H.) Inmates at the New Hampshire State Prison for Women have chosen to give something back to students at one local elementary school this fall. Over one hundred fifty fabric backpacks hand sewn by the inmates will be donated to the Bartlett Elementary School in Goffstown when the opening bell rings in the new school year this fall.

Acting Prison Warden Joanne Fortier said the women have been working on this project all summer with the goal of producing one hundred seventy-six backpacks by Labor Day weekend.

“About ten women are working together on this unique project under the guidance of staff member Pam Bergeron as a way to give something back to the local community,” Acting Warden Fortier said. “The backpacks are nicely made and will be a great gift for the students that benefit.”

The inmates gather together every Tuesday evening to work on this project as a team and they are permitted to work individually during other days of the week. The backpacks are being made from donated materials or materials purchased from the inmate recreation fund with no taxpayer expense.