At least 380 inmates in Torit Central Prison received second-hand clothes from the Pastor’s Network of Evangelical Churches, in collaboration with People of Hope, on Monday.
According to the Network, every inmate was given between 4 and 6 pieces of clothing apart from prison administrators who received about three bales of clothes as part of the donation. Over 1,000 beneficiaries both males and females in Churches, maternity wards, schools, boda-boda riders, and women groups among others have benefited from the donation of clothes from Network recently.
Bishop Joshua Lokurudek Charles of the Grace Gospel Church who doubles as the chairperson of the Pastors Network of Evangelical Churches in Eastern Equatoria State said the donation is from the People of Hope to support inmates and the needy.
“We invited People of Hope from Juba to Torit and they brought second-hand clothes to distribute to the needy people in Eastern Equatoria so we are in the prison to donate the second-hand clothes to the inmates to help them change their dressings,” he explained. “We are also going to ask for donations of food for the needy population. We gave clothes to 308 inmates which included men, women, and four children.”
For her part, Grace Nayo, the head of female inmates at the prison, appreciated the Network for the clothes and support but decried the lack of cooking utensils, mosquito nets, and medicine and urged the government and well-wishers to intervene.
“I give thanks to you all for what you have done to us and we are very happy with this support,” she said. “We have received clothes and may God bless them for what they have done to us. We also need utensils, mosquito nets, soap, and medicine.”
A male prisoner, Arkangelo John Ben, said he now has a change of clothes.
“Today we are very happy because we received clothes and we acknowledge the support. These clothes are going to help me change when my other clothes. I pray that the Network will continue supporting us,” he said. “We lack washing and bathing soap and do not have medicine here at the prison. We need support from the government and now that we have been given clothes, they should also support us with medicine and cooking utensils.”
Meanwhile, Col. Christina Luka John, the officer in charge of female inmates at Torit Central Prison, lauded Evangelical Churches for always putting the prisoners in their programs.
“Currently, we have finished distributing clothes to all inmates in the prison, both women and men including the prison administrators have all received clothes,” she stated. “Women have a lot of needs and demands like soap, sanitary pads, and pans. The inmates here have no one to support them and even their relatives only bring food without considering what is needed for washing the utensils. Even the men need soap.”
The team leader of People of Hope, Joseph Juma, said they do not only donate clothes but also preach the word of God to change the lives of vulnerable groups.
“This time God has opened for us the way to come to Torit and to come and minister and that is why we also decided to visit the prison and also give them some of the items that we have to help them,” he enlightened. “We are serving God by working with the prisons, schools, and hospitals among others. This support is a donation to our ministry and we are supposed to give it to vulnerable people. They will be able to get the support when we pray so let us love God.”