PELIPOST | THE OFFICIAL BLOG

When Amanda and Legend were separated by incarceration, they exchanged nearly 300 letters – messages filled with hope, pregnancy updates, dreams of their future, and unwavering love. These letters became their lifeline, a powerful reminder that they were worthy of connection despite their circumstances.

This beautiful exchange wasn't just communication – it was transformation. Today, that personal journey has blossomed into 300 Letters, an organization dedicated to healing families affected by incarceration through mental health services, emotional support, and genuine understanding.

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The Healing Power of Mail

For families separated by incarceration, mail correspondence isn't just nice – it's essential.

"Mail correspondence is EVERYTHING and more for anyone who has an incarcerated loved one and especially for the person who is currently incarcerated," Amanda shares from experience. "Being inside of a jail or prison feels lonely, depressing, confusing. It makes you question your worth so being able to see your family via pictures reminds you that you are still a loving human being and worthy of being loved."

Those Pelipost photos you're sending? They're not just pictures – they're powerful reminders of identity, connection, and hope.

"It reminds you of your TRUE identity and the roles God has blessed us with that are not defined by this one experience," Amanda explains.

Even simple creative exchanges become treasured connections: "My son and I would make drawings and send that same sheet of paper back and forth to add on to each-others masterpiece. I knew he touched that paper and he knew mommy had it so it was comforting and gave me the joy I needed to make it through another day."

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Understanding the Unique Challenges

What many people don't realize is that families dealing with incarceration face unique emotional challenges that often go unaddressed.

"When a mom or dad is incarcerated, a child experiences the same emotions as losing a parent to death. This grief is often invalidated and misunderstood," Amanda points out. "There are so many organizations helping families process grief but not when it comes to an incarceration experience."

The journey continues after release, as families work to rebuild relationships. "Most individuals that go through this also experience a loss of self-esteem and identity so rebuilding that post-incarceration can be very challenging especially when stepping back into your family roles. The dynamics, the absence and guilt all need a safe space to process and understand how to move forward in the most positive way for the family to thrive."

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From Pain to Purpose: The Birth of 300 Letters

"300 Letters was born from a love story rooted in resilience, survival, and second chances," Amanda tells us. "During our time apart, both navigating incarceration, Legend and I wrote about 300 letters to each other. Those letters became our lifeline."

When they returned home, Amanda and Legend realized their experience wasn't unique. "Millions of families are impacted by incarceration and are trying to rebuild, reconnect, and find support. But the reality is, most of them are doing it without resources, and without a community that truly understands."

This realization became their mission: "That's why we created 300 Letters—to turn our pain into purpose. 300 Letters is about more than our story. It's about the families we serve, the cycles we're breaking, and the lives we're helping transform through mental health services, emotional support and understanding."

Breaking Cycles of Trauma

The power of 300 Letters' approach shines through in their success stories. Through their interconnected programs – Mind, Perspective, and Soul workshops inside prisons, the 300 Heroes program for caregivers, and Healing Hearts family therapy – they're helping families write new chapters.

"One powerful story that shows how our programs work together began inside this workshop," Amanda shares. "A mother participating in Mind, Perspective, and Soul suggested that the father of her children join our 300 Heroes program... He reached out to 300 Letters, enrolled, and became the first father to ever complete the 300 Heroes program."

This family's journey continued with both parents eventually participating in the Healing Hearts program together after the mother's release. "Their commitment to healing transformed their relationship, building open communication, emotional understanding, and a shared vision for their family's future."

The result? "Upon completing the program, they discovered they were expecting a new bundle of joy. Today, one year later, they are planning their wedding. This is a powerful testimony that incarceration is just one chapter, not the whole story."

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A Vision for the Future

300 Letters envisions a world where every child with an incarcerated parent has emotional support, every caregiver is surrounded by understanding, and every returning citizen has the tools to rebuild meaningful family connections.

As Amanda powerfully states: "With the right community and access to trauma-informed care, families can move from brokenness to wholeness, from survival to true thriving."

Remember: Those photos you send through Pelipost aren't just images – they're bridges of connection, reminders of love, and seeds of healing for your loved one.

To learn more about 300 Letters and their transformative programs, visit 300letters.com.

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