Some days you win!

Mr. T, a Latino prisoner who claims his wife must have fallen off the earth, who cannot find his grown kids, and who resides in the Michigan Prison System, was caught in recent transfers due to the closing of a prison. He went to Carson City, then he went to Adrian, then he was returned to Carson City, and finally he ended up in Coldwater. Through all of this his belongings were lost: a duffel bag containing all his possessions. But the most important thing in that duffel bag was his legal work. For the past year he had worked, by himself, on a motion for a new trial because he had no money. That motion was ready to be filed in January, along with all supporting documents. Then all were lost. Prison officials advised that their search came up empty. They were sorry.

When he called HFP, he explained that he had no one. He has been a friend of ours for some months, and he said in exasperation: "You're all I have!"

We took that seriously, and utilizing the experience of a former MDOC employee, we found the duffel bag yesterday! It was resting peacefully in a prison storeroom. If he hasn't received it yet, Mr. T should get it today.

Upon learning the good news, he called our office, but the poor man had no money left on his telephone card. He just had time to get out the words: "I can't thank you enough!"

And so yesterday we didn't free someone from prison, we didn't get help for the mentally ill prisoner, but we did locate critically important legal papers for one of "the least of these." For HFP, it was a major victory!

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."-- Mother Teresa

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