Winnipeg program aims to create pen pals with inmates

A new program in Winnipeg aims to link people up with a pen pal at Stony Mountain Penitentiary. It’s already drawn massive interest from the inmates.

“The interest on the inside is huge,” said Rebecca Hume, one of the organizers of Writer’s Block. “I’ve just been in contact with like 75 folks at Stony who are interested in getting a pen pal – which I think is like, a really amazing number.”

Writer’s Block is a group who spent the last two years ironing out a way to start a pen pal program in the prison.

“Writer’s Block sends the first letter on behalf of the pen pal on the outside, so we send it on the inside with instructions for the incarcerated person to reply and then the idea is that the reply goes directly to the pen pal afterwards, and then Writer’s Block is out of the equation.”

Glen Hondz battled addiction for seven years before he wound up in jail. “That letter would make a big difference you know – it makes their day,” he explained.

“Mostly sad. I felt lost, I felt like I had no belonging, it’s an unsettling feeling.”

He says a letter from a caring stranger, means more than someone on the outside could imagine to an inmate.

“A letter is more important than a phone call you know? Someone took the time out of their day to write you this letter you know? Just to give you words of encouragement and hope – It just makes that person feel wanted, loved, having that connection – that network of pen pals, I think that’s a great thing for the inmates.”

Aiden Enns at the John Howard Society says a program like this has unseen effects. Some inmates will be working on their education, and seeing different writing styles will aid in that journey.

“It’s a friendship, it’s a lifeline, it’s a connection from the inside to the outside, it’s a ray of hope that someone cares. I have a connection, there is some meaning that’s for me to be built outside of the institution, if I get out or when I get out,” explained Enns.

Enns says that this program also helps instill a desire in the everyday person to continue helping even when a person is no longer incarcerated.

“It animates a part of the population on the outside that continues to care, that wants to really foster more life on the inside so they’re less likely to offend or be in a cycle of recidivism once they’re out – so it’s really good for those on the inside, but also those on the outside.”

The Writer’s Block pen pal sign up sheet is available here.