Hi,
I'm going to visit my friend on OK death row in July and I wonder if anybody here knows how I can get in touch with the people running the hospitality house in McAlester (names, phone numbers, e-mail adress)...
Has anybody of you ever stayed there? Is it a nice place?
Any advice is really appreciated.
Greetings,
Maria

I have stayed there and it is very nice. I don't have the number but if you can't find it someone will be along and post it for you.

They like for people to make resversations, the men are on one side and the women on the other. I was really amazed that this type of place was set up. The lady whom I spoke with was very nice. There is a kitchen to make your breakfast or whatever and you can bring in your own food to prepare.

Very nice.

******Update. :)

MommaHen (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-15778.html)
05-27-2003, 01:46 PM
Here is the information on the hospitality house located across from Oklahoma State Penitentiary and Jackie brannon and Talawanda Heights Minimum Unit! Everything except those in parenthesis are typed from their flyers telling about the house and asking area churches for support in this misson

Hospitality House of Oklahoma Inc. is a ministry to provide physical and spiritual needs to prison inmates families who visit loved ones who are incarcerated in the prisons in McAlester. As you know, when the bread winner is taken out of the family, poverty sets in. These are"the other victims of crime"

Hospitality House provides a home away from home for them. Besides over-night lodging there is a kitchen to prepare meals(some food is provided if needed) and a community to share hurts and joys within a Christian atmosphere of caring and concern.(They are there to help but do not judge you by what our loved ones have done)

We believe that ministering to the freinds and family is a very necessary ministry. Seperation from a parent, spouse, or child can be emotionally and economically devastating.

Statistics show that prisoners who receive regular visits from home have a lower rate of returning to prison than those whose ties have been severed.

We want to help to retain their ties under these most trying circumstances., We must do our part in helping to maintain this contact and provide suppport and encouragement during the incarceration.

The cost is $5 dollars a night for adults and $1 a night for children which does include food and lodging.

Contact them at 918-429-0142 for reservations ans information(some weekends this is necessary and will make sure you have a bed reserved just in case they are full)

The address for the hospitality house is
635 Short Stonewall
McAlester,Ok 74501

Thank you!

Okay, I've just called this place and was told they can consider immediate family members only...
Does anybody know if they can check whether I am a family member or not? Besides, his family does not visit him, so hell - I guess I am his family. What do you think - does it make sense to call again and step into a discussion? Or do I better look for a hotel room?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
Maria

Hi there I am the one that originally posted the information and I told them I was his fiancee when I signed in and never had any trouble but in answer to your question they do not check and have no way of checking it out! All they used to have us fill out was name address and name and which facility the inmate is in! I do believe they notify the prison you are staying nearby as it is literally just a couple of blocks from both minimum units that are not fenced as well as the main prison.

MommaHen,
thanks for the information - I've just tried again, no chance. No girlfriends, no fiancees, immediate family members only, no exceptions. It would have been nice to stay there, as I am from Germany everything will be strange to me, my friend is on death row, it's my first visit... I'd really have appreciated some kind of support from people who are into that business compared to the anonymous atmosphere of a motel that I will now book...

Sorry it has been a couple of years and maybe it had to do with the facts my kids calle dhim daddy that they let me stay and it has become more well known that they are there and they may have changed rules!