Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

60 We conducted some pastoral and social initiatives in prisons: "Checking the eyesight of prisoners", "A book for prisoners", "The Peace Light of Bethlehem", "Social solidarity days in prison". These initia - tives were organized in 12 locations (9 of them — new ones) to provide greater support and outreach to prisoners and prison personnel in Ukraine as well as to strengthen social interaction and positive com- munication with prisoners and within prisons. Organization of pastoral and social initiatives in prisons contributed to a greater involvement of volunteers who are members of parish communities for service in prisons at the local level. For development of 12 local centres of prison ministry we organized 7 trips to: Zhytomyr; Kovel (Volyn’ region); Mena (Chernihiv region); Vinnytsya; Dnipro; Melitopol (Zaporizhya region) and Cherkasy. During these trips, the Penitentiary chaplaincy office organized meetings with the prison administration and activ- ities for prisoners with the participation of local pastors who are called to help launch a regular pastoral ministry in the prisons at those locations. Soc ial ser v i ces for people in need