Many people develop prisoner pen pal relationships as a way to support those who are incarcerated. Sending letters to prisoners is a great way to help them through their isolation inside the prison walls. Like any pen pal, there are certain things to keep in mind when writing to a prisoner online. There are several ways you can connect with inmates looking for pen pals.
1. Write to Someone You Know
If you know someone who is currently incarcerated, consider writing to them to provide some emotional support. If they are interested in corresponding with you, you can start a prisoner pen pal relationship. Reach out and ask if they would be interested in communicating while they are there. Explain your intentions and why you are interested in writing back and forth. Some prisoners may not want to correspond, and that is okay. It is their choice. Before you start a relationship, make sure you have good intentions for writing. Receiving letters is a great way to boost prisoners’ spirits. But you don’t want to leave them disappointed. Make sure you set clear expectations and boundaries and follow through with your promises. The last thing you want to do is end up causing more harm than good. If you are going to write someone you know, you’ll need to get their mailing address. You can talk to someone close to them or contact the prison to ask for the inmate’s specific address. Be sure to include all necessary information when addressing the envelope, so it gets to the right place.
2. Find Prisoner Pen Pals Online
Another way to connect with an inmate pen pal is to use an inmate pen pal registry like Friends 4 Prisoners. We provide profiles of inmates looking for a pen pal. You can browse through photos of current inmates and learn more about their interests. Be sure to choose an inmate with the exact expectations as you. You don’t want to pick someone looking for a romantic relationship when you are looking for a friend or someone to mentor. In your first letter, introduce yourself and provide some basics about who you are. Be careful not to give any information that is too personal. You can describe your hobbies, interests, and a short personal description. However, stay away from giving out your full name and address. Introduce yourself as if you are meeting someone for the first time. Add some words of encouragement and mention some things you found in their profile that sparked your writing interest.
3. Continue the Friendship
Finally, the best thing you can do once your relationship continues is to keep the correspondence coming. Remember to be open and honest. Treat your inmate pen pal with courtesy and respect. If at any point you want to stop communications, let them know. Don’t simply cut off your contact. This can be very disheartening to inmates. Give your prisoner pen pals something to respond to by asking questions in your letters. This will help break the ice initially and keep the conversation going long-term. Be careful not to ask about why they are incarcerated. Instead, discuss your hobbies, interests, favorite activities, books, and music. Let your pen pal share that information with you when they are ready. Steer clear of more serious questions until your relationship progresses, and you both feel more comfortable with one another. Be patient. If you don’t get a response right away, don’t give up. Remember, the mail is slow for prison inmates, and their internet time is limited. Their emails are screened before being distributed, so it can take much longer for you to get a response. Take some time to research the prison’s guidelines for correspondences. Watch your language in your letters and stay positive. As your communication continues, do your best to remember special occasions. Birthdays can be lonely for inmates, so try to send a special letter if they share their birthday with you. This can be incredibly encouraging. You can also send cards or letters on special holidays.
Do You Want to Support a Prisoner Pen Pal? Check Out Our Prisoner Profiles Today!
If you want to support an inmate pen pal, you’ve come to the right place! Our program connects individuals with prisoners looking for a pen pal online. You can browse through our current prisoner profiles here.
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If you need proof of the impact that millennials are having on the food and beverage industry, here’s a story that might provide it for you.A lifestyle reporter for the Washington Post hosted a holiday party for her spouse’s employees at his law firm (pre-Covid, of course.)
As most of her husband’s staff attending the event were comprised of millennials (those born between the years of 1981-1996), she wanted to ensure she had a liquor and beverage selection that would be commensurate with their tastes and preferences.
She texted a new associate attorney she’d come to know, a 30-year-old graduate of Georgetown’s prestigious law school, for ideas of beverage selections she should put on the list for her shopping expedition.First, he told her, there’s no need to go physically shopping for the supplies.
Second, he informed her, you’ll want to make sure anything you buy has the “ethically bottled and sourced” stamps of approval, because nearly everyone he knew at the firm only consumes beverages they know have been humanely distilled and prepared.
And finally, “oh and you know, make sure it looks good, too.”“Looks good?” she thought.
So, you know, more upscale looking bottles and labels, that sort of thing,” he offered.Whereas past baby boomers tended to drink the most dominant brands of liquor and beverages and Generation X drank whatever was cheapest and easiest to purchase, the mysteries of the millennial generation and how they choose to allocate their purchasing power continue to both abound and astound the food and beverage industry, not to mention all the rest of the population.
