How Is Elder Doing?
The Cap Is Back. One of our Louisiana-based community members was able to visit Elder last Thursday. Her account gives fantastic insight into how Elder is doing and what his life is like for detainees at Winn, and explains why the cap being back matters.
I was able to visit Elder today. He is doing well! He is still smiling and told me he is not stressed because he believes that he will be released – it’s just a matter of time. He prays often and said the first thing he will do when released, is pray his thanks to God.
I asked Elder what his day was like. He shrugged, smiled and was a little vague. He said he doesn’t get up until 9 or 10 am. When I asked if that meant he missed breakfast, he laughed and said breakfast was “scary.” He has been helping paint; today he was painting in the kitchen. He spends some time reading and watching TV. He visits with his friend, Nicholas.
All of the detainees are watching the World Cup. Elder is rooting for Spain.
He really misses his sister and nephews! He is really looking forward to being back home with them.
Elder wants to be back in school. He enjoyed school and said he only missed when he had an appointment with the orthodontist. He has many friends that check in with Mayuri to get information on how he is doing. He does get to talk with his girlfriend, Ashley, on the phone. He said she’s very smart and pretty.
Elder has not had his braces checked yet. I asked about that and was told “it takes time.” He got his cap back that Carlos gave him when Carlos was released. (Carlos Della Valle, who was detained with Elder and is one of this community’s guiding stars. Find Carlos’ story here.) He said he asked someone in the laundry to look for it and they found it.
Elder gave me cookies again today, but the guard wouldn’t let me leave with them. I’m not sure how we got away with it before, but couldn’t pull it off today.
I hope others get a chance to know this sweet, kind young man.
We’re on our way, Elder. Alabama-based community members Pastor Andy, Pastor Beth and Ryan (Mosaic Family Gadsden member) are in Louisiana today to visit Elder. Read below about our community supporting their travels, then watch this space next week for their reports. Later in August, Pennsylvania-based community members will be traveling to Louisiana to visit Elder.
Keep those cards and letters coming, folks. Last week, Elder was flabbergasted to receive communications all the way from California. Thank you, California! An easy way to lift Elder’s spirits is to send him a card or brief letter. Scroll down to find out how.
Elder has been detained for 204 days at a cost of $14,280. Click on the home page of FreeElder.net to see the automatic counter of Elder’s time in detention. The funds used to detain Elder comes from federal taxpayer-funded contracts. This is an excellent point to highlight in communications with elected officials.
Did You Know?
Elder’s GoFundMe continues to grow. Together, we have raised over $4,000 in two weeks! Deepest thanks to all who have donated. Remember, ALL FUNDS will support Elder’s legal fees and commissary account (for phone calls and food). Any leftover funds will be used towards his education. Here’s the link to Elder’s GoFundMe.
The news media continues to follow Elder’s case.
AL.com posted this article on July 10:
Alabama Community Praying for Release of 18-year-old
The Sand Mountain Leader (Elder’s local paper) published this article online on July 18, and in print:
Previous media about Elder can be found on the News and Updates page. Don’t forget, sharing these articles on your social media and with your communities are an easy and effective way to help get the word out about Elder.
Our Community In Action
Do you question whether or not communicating with elected officials is worth the effort? The answer is YES. One of Alabama-based community members sent an email to her congressman, using the template provided on FreeElder.net. Within days, she received a phone call from one of the congressman’s staff members, asking for more information about Elder’s case. Conversations like this provide the opportunity to talk to our elected officials or their staff about Elder, to tell them the community cares deeply for Elder and wants him back home. Join this community member and send an email or make a phone call today. This is a simple and effective way for all of us to be heard, but particularly important for Alabama residents. You never know – your communication might be the one that brings Elder home.
The kindness of strangers continues to appear to support Elder and the community working for his release. As mentioned above, Alabama-based community members are traveling this week to Louisiana to visit Elder. A kind stranger in Tuscaloosa heard of this community’s efforts and offered to host them, for free, at their B&B. In addition, when in Louisiana, they will be staying at the home of Cheryl Key, the same woman who generously hosted Angela Della Valle (another of this community’s guiding stars) while her husband was detained at Winn.
Cheryl is a native of Oklahoma, who learned from her father (a business owner in Ada, Oklahoma) “the importance of treating each person with kindness and respect”. After successful careers in journalism and public relations, Cheryl joined her father in running a small loan company with offices in Oklahoma and Louisiana. This led Cheryl (and her husband, Robert Meek) to purchase a home in Natchitoches, LA, close to Winn Correctional Facility, where Elder is currently detained. This is the home they have now offered to members of this community for a few nights of lodging. Cheryl’s commitment to community and kindness for everyone is a model for the Free Elder community.
Join us in person on Wednesday, August 5. As the calendar turns to August, kids around the country turn their attention to returning to school. Elder should be joining them. Instead he is still detained. Our community will highlight this fact on Wednesday, August 5, 5:30 – 7:30 CST (6:30 – 8:30 EST), at a multi-state vigil and letter-writing event. Alabama will gather at Abundant Grace United Methodist Church in Boaz, AL. Pennsylvania will gather at Messiah Lutheran Church in Downingtown, PA. Louisiana’s location will be announced on social media and in next week’s update.
We’ll hear from our community (activists, pastors, and some of Elder’s teachers) and write letters of encouragement and advocacy. All materials are supplied. Here’s your chance to come out, take action and meet others who are advocating for Elder.
Actions You Can Take Today
Shout out to Team Elder member Vicky for creating these awesome Call To Action flyers. Use the QR codes to take action today, and share these everywhere. QR Codes not your thing? Scroll down for more links.
- Write/Call Elder’s federal officials – While all communications help, Alabama residents are especially needed to communicate with their representatives in Congress. Click here for an automated form.
- Share Elder’s story with your community – Getting the word out about Elder is an easy and effective way to support Elder and his family. The News and Update page on FreeElder.net has links to all of the media coverage about Elder.The more people hear about Elder and his case, the better.
- Follow our social media accounts. – Facebook has been added! Find us there at Free Elder Now. Find us on IG: @freeeldernow and on Tiktok: @freeeldernoww. Share with your community and on your accounts to help get the word out about Elder and to help Elder’s story rise in the algorithm.
- Write to Elder – Can you write a letter or send a card to Elder? Communications from supporters give detainees a huge emotional boost. Check out the attached flyer for specific details.
- Elder’s Chair Coloring Pages – Before Elder was detained, he built a handsome chair in his school’s carpentry workshop (There’s a photo at the end of this update of Elder and his chair). We’ve created a coloring page of Elder’s Chair, which you can download here. Because Elder was a minor when he was detained, it is our hope that children will color and decorate the page in honor of Elder. In the coming weeks, we’ll provide information about uploading the pages. We’ll then pass them on to Elder’s federal representatives, so they can see the robust and diverse community supporting Elder. Please make sure only first names or initials appear on the finished pages.
Thank you for joining the community to Free Elder Chavez Carranza.
