I thought this was a neat story to share. Wish all states did this for the prisoners.

Inmates Get Apples, Not Coal, at Christmas

Dec 23, 10:57 am ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark (Reuters) - It doesn't matter if you're naughty or nice, if you're a prisoner in Arkansas, you will receive a gift this Christmas.
Prison officials will give each of the 13,500 inmates in the state two apples, two oranges as well as $5 on Christmas eve and Christmas day in a bid to make life a bit brighter for those behind bars over the holidays.

The $70,000 cost for the program is paid for by prison vending machine profits and from rebates the system receives on long-distance calls placed by inmates. The fresh fruit is donated from various U.S. orchards.

For security reasons, the prison system forbids inmates' friends and relatives from sending gifts to prisoners at any time of year -- except for gift packages purchased through prison commissaries.

About time something nice happens in a prison system, somewhere...

that is great every prison should do something nice for them!
mande

If only!

Society does not get those stories much, because most people don't want to hear about inmates getting anything. It is sad that society has so little sympathy for inmates, only seeing them as the devil's children. When I was incarcerated, almost every camp gave something during Christmas. In many prisons, the community Salvation Army or churches would give packages of fruit, toiletries and candy to inmates; it happens much more than people think. I think that as bad as many prisons are, Christmas is one day everyone believes in hope, and in that act of kindness, a little compassion shows through.

It's nice to hear from a former "insider" that it happens more often than we think.