Councilmembers want to help Metro Corrections inmates being released

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Donated items like clothing, cell phones and basic necessities are offering hope to inmates transitioning back into society from Louisville’s jail.

A local initiative is helping to break the cycle of crime.

Shameka Parrish-Wright, a member of Louisville Metro Council, has firsthand experience with the challenges faced by people leaving jail. Years ago, she was a victim of domestic violence and found herself in jail after defending herself. She was 18 years old.

"I was taken from my home in the middle of the night, so literally, I didn’t have anything," Parrish-Wright said.

The experience worsened when the clothes she was wearing were kept as evidence, leaving her in nothing but long underwear when she was released from jail. That moment stuck with her, motivating her to organize a Clothing & Supply Drive to assist others in similar situations.

“I wish I would have had this,” Parrish-Wright said. “I literally walked home in thin flip-flops.”

Thirty years later, Parrish-Wright and fellow council member Ben Reno-Weber have partnered to collect donations that include items like socks, bus passes, Chapstick and prepaid cell phones. These items are critical in helping people regain their independence once they are released from jail.

Karen Clayton, a social services supervisor for Louisville Metro Corrections, expressed her gratitude for the donations.

“Our shelves were getting very, very bare,” Clayton said. “When a person’s basic needs aren’t met, it’s hard for them to focus on the things that really matter.”

For many people leaving jail, basic necessities like clothing are vital for reintegrating into society. Parrish-Wright emphasized that proper attire is essential for accessing government services, attending job interviews and making a successful transition.

"People are leaving without underwear. People are leaving without shoes," she said.

Clayton echoed the importance of these donations.

“We try to help with any gap that we can,” she said. “We receive a lot of appreciation from people. The little bit you do, they remember."

Drop-off sites for donations are located on the first floor of City Hall, at the Shelby Park Highlands Library, and at Metro Corrections.

"This is a great way to give back to people you might never meet," Parrish-Wright said. "You might see them in a grocery store with something you donated, but you know that this is the gift that keeps giving."

The drive is ongoing, with plans to continue collecting donations throughout the year.

For those looking to help, the donation list includes gently used, clean clothing—pants, shirts, jackets, coats, scarves, and hats—as well as essential items like bus passes and prepaid cell phones.

“We have people calling us, giving us suits from their loved ones,” Parrish-Wright said. “It’s growing, and it’s making a real difference.”

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