Penpal Support
Donation protected
I started writing letters with my penpal almost 6 years ago through Black and Pink , a national prison abolitionist organization dedicated to dismantling the criminal punishment system and the harms caused to LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by the system through advocacy, support, and organizing. She was 25 went I sent my first letter and turned 31 this past March.
On Thursday, July 23rd, 2020, my penpal is being paroled after serving almost 10 years of a 16 year sentence in a series of women's prisons in Texas where she has been incarcerated since she was 22 years old.
She's from a tiny town in rural Texas where walking down the street while queer is like "Satan walking into a church" (as she describes). Before serving this sentence, she was in and out of jail and on and off the streets since she ran away from an extremely abusive home at the age 12.
No one is picking her up on her release date and she will be riding a greyhound bus to Waco, Texas with nothing but the state issued clothes on her back, out into a covid-19 world in a state with surging cases. She will be staying with family who have their own struggles and aside from temporarily allowing her to stay, and are unable to be of much support beyond that.
She is an extremely funny, resilient, loving, positive force of nature who is determined to start her life over despite the odds that are stacked against her and anyone who's real crime is poverty and trauma. She has survived unthinkable abuse, extortion and abhorrent prison conditions. I'm rooting for her to not only survive this next transition but to ultimately thrive.
I'm raising a small amount of funds to help her out with basic things like clothes, food, menstruation supplies, transportation, soap, masks, and various other things because I can.
Any contributions are greatly appreciated whether it be money, prayers, wishes or other ways of sending hope. All love and support is welcome. OR consider supporting the work of Black and Pink by making a donation directly there or even starting a penpalship with a member.
All contributors (cash or otherwise) are invited to join me for a guided virtual forest therapy walk on Saturday, August 1st, from 10-11:30AM EST in her name. Details to follow. Thanks!
On Thursday, July 23rd, 2020, my penpal is being paroled after serving almost 10 years of a 16 year sentence in a series of women's prisons in Texas where she has been incarcerated since she was 22 years old.
She's from a tiny town in rural Texas where walking down the street while queer is like "Satan walking into a church" (as she describes). Before serving this sentence, she was in and out of jail and on and off the streets since she ran away from an extremely abusive home at the age 12.
No one is picking her up on her release date and she will be riding a greyhound bus to Waco, Texas with nothing but the state issued clothes on her back, out into a covid-19 world in a state with surging cases. She will be staying with family who have their own struggles and aside from temporarily allowing her to stay, and are unable to be of much support beyond that.
She is an extremely funny, resilient, loving, positive force of nature who is determined to start her life over despite the odds that are stacked against her and anyone who's real crime is poverty and trauma. She has survived unthinkable abuse, extortion and abhorrent prison conditions. I'm rooting for her to not only survive this next transition but to ultimately thrive.
I'm raising a small amount of funds to help her out with basic things like clothes, food, menstruation supplies, transportation, soap, masks, and various other things because I can.
Any contributions are greatly appreciated whether it be money, prayers, wishes or other ways of sending hope. All love and support is welcome. OR consider supporting the work of Black and Pink by making a donation directly there or even starting a penpalship with a member.
All contributors (cash or otherwise) are invited to join me for a guided virtual forest therapy walk on Saturday, August 1st, from 10-11:30AM EST in her name. Details to follow. Thanks!
Organizer
Tam Willey
Organizer
Jamaica Plain, MA