According to an article in the October 2009 issue of the Prison Legal News,  profits from Florida’s prison canteens were transferred in 1996 from the Inmate Welfare Fund to the state’s General Revenue Fund.  The Inmate Welfare Fund was used to fund recreational programs and activities but since its elimination, programs must rely heavily on donations to operate.  So, feel free to donate board games, playing cards (some institutions only have cards with the pictures of  murder victims which are not appropriate or fun for  young children and some adults), bibles, coloring books, basketballs, footballs, team T’s or anything allowed by the institution. In Florida, you can contact the Assistant Warden in charge of Programs for instruction on what and how to donate.   And remember that whatever you choose to donate, the inmates and the visiting families will be glad you did.