Parting gifts

Donna Andrews was released from Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) on Dec. 4, 2025. She had been incarcerated since 2006. She spent her last 13 years in Facility B’s unit 506. Her roommates described Andrews, now in her 70s, as mild, meek, and still a bit feisty. She has a down-to-earth quality about her that is welcoming and non-judgmental. She often sat on her walker scooting herself around the dayroom so she could mingle with her community. Andrews was a facilitator of many groups. She was a positive confidante, friend, and a motherly figure to many. While awaiting her release, she gave away many gifts, including around 150 purchased candy bars specific to the taste of the recipient. 

Q. Can you tell me about the parting gifts you left? 

A. I asked each person what their favorite candy bar was and made a list. Then I ordered them from Walkenhorst’s [a vendor for CCWF quarterly packages]. When they came, I lined them up, put names on them, and separated them by room number…I made check marks and checked the list all the time to keep track. 

Q.What were the most popular candy bars? 

A. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s bars. 

Q. What made you want to do this? 

A. It made me feel like I had a purpose…I have been here and watched so many people leave and leave nothing behind. I know what it is like for a person to leave, and there be no memory here left of them. That’s why I did it — so that every one of you would know about the bond I have with you. 

Q. How do you feel about being a part of a new community? 

A. It’s going to be great; a new purpose, new people to help, new people to know. I really like helping people. 

Q. How long have you been incarcerated? 

A. It has been 20 years, 6 months, and 4 days, but who’s counting? 

Q. What was it like when you arrived with your sentence? 

A. I came here when I was 51. I came with 32 years…I did whatever because I knew I was going to die here anyway. It took a while for a fire to light under me. I wanted to become a changed person. I wanted to change. 

Q. How do you feel about leaving after all this time? 

A. I am scared. I don’t want to leave my family because I have little family out there. I have never been on my own. 

Q.What is something that kept you going throughout your time? 

A. I had a hip replacement, and a week later, a nurse rolled my leg under a wheelchair and broke my femur, and then I got a bone infection and started to die. I could feel myself dying. Death was right there. I was sitting in my wheelchair, like, “Come on!” All of a sudden, I felt really warm, and I realized it was God beside me. I was like, “Okay, you are here with me while I die.” Then I got in bed and ended up waking up the next morning, and my body felt completely different. I can listen to him now. I have a new love. I am having the time of my life. I see everything now. I see everyone. 

Q. Do you have anything else you want to say? 

A. Don’t give up. Never surrender. Fight your way out of here because there will be obstacles around every corner.