Inmates need money for new worship building

PENDER COUNTY — Inmates at the Pender Correctional Institution are praying for more room to worship.

Pender County Chaplain Jim Spirito-Santo says finding religion is a crucial part of the rehabilitation process. The problem is the prison’s chapel isn’t big enough for everyone.

Sunday services are now held in the visitation area, which holds about 70 people. But each week inmates have to be turned away because there’s just not enough room.

Inmate Larry Knight said, “With a life sentence, it’s the only hope that I have is within the lord and we’re in desperate need of a larger facility.”

The prison needs to raise about $300,000 to build a new, larger facility.

The chaplain says he’s hoping to fund the project with donations from the community.

Anyone can mail donations to:

Pender Development Fund.
P.O. Box 1058
Burgaw, NC 28425

You can find more info about the project at www.PenderChapel.org or by calling 910-663-3076.