GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Inmates at Green Bay Correctional Institution are bringing joy and promoting literacy by donating hundreds of wrapped books to local students in the Green Bay School District. In the program's fourth year, the partnership between the school district and the correctional institution has collected and donated 2,000 books for elementary students. Avian influenza reported in Wisconsin wildlife and poultry cases prompt safety warnings “We take a lot of enthusiasm in doing this. It gives us a sense of giving back to the community, to help out the less fortunate, and we enjoy doing it,” said Keenan Knight, one of the inmates involved in the project. “It’s always wonderful being able to help children, putting a smile on their face, and it just… it feels good.” Chris Stevens, Warden of Green Bay Correctional Institution, emphasized the importance of the initiative for both the inmates and the community. “They are doing good things all the time. They're making hats, scarves, and mittens for folks, doing things like they did today. They work inside of here. Lots of folks have jobs and go to education – they're definitely staying active as much as they'd like to.” Inmates volunteer to participate in this initiative, driven by a desire to connect with the outside community. Knight expressed his message to students, “Just always remain open minded, never be judgmental, receive blessings and blessings come in all shapes, forms, and sizes no matter who the person is, no matter what the person has done in their life, it’s all about moving forward.” Each book was selected by the Elmore Elementary School District literacy coach, based on each child's reading level, language barriers, and interests. Amy Fish, Director of Community Partnerships and Grants for the Green Bay School District, highlighted the impact of the partnership. “From our children's perspective, it means that someone cares about them. Someone donated their time to wrap all these gifts. Someone donated their money to purchase these gifts, and someone cares about me – and that means a lot.” Legendary Packers WR Donald Driver teams up with Network Health to provide meals to families Warden Stevens believes the project plays a key role in the rehabilitation of inmates, helping them feel connected to their community. “We always want them to be a part of the community in one way or another, and this gives them an opportunity for that,” he said. Regardless of circumstances, this program shines a different light on prisons, inmates, and the positive impact that can come from them.