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Jeff's Second Family

Prison Pen-Pal Ministry
A Ministry of Letters & Grace

Every person deserves someone who writes back.

Jeff's Second Family connects incarcerated men and women with compassionate pen pals who offer friendship, encouragement, and the reminder that they are not forgotten.

Become a Pen Pal See how it works →
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Awaiting a Pen Pal
100%
Volunteer-Led
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States Reached
March 2026 · Arkansas
Dear Friend,

"I've been here four years and nobody outside these walls has ever written to me. When I got your letter I read it three times. You treated me like I was still a person. That meant everything."

— Anthony A., Arkansas
Letters of Hope — Inmates Waiting Faith-Based Ministry Human Connection You Are Not Forgotten Letters of Hope — Inmates Waiting Faith-Based Ministry Human Connection You Are Not Forgotten
Our Mission

A letter can change a life behind bars.

Our mission is to share normal conversation, stories, and true friendship with those who are incarcerated — to give them a connection to society beyond prison walls. Jeff's Second Family is a community of caring people who believe in second chances.

Founded on the vision of Harold Jeff Morrison from inside the Texas Correctional System, this ministry matches volunteers with incarcerated individuals who have expressed a desire for correspondence. Every connection is carefully facilitated with guidance every step of the way.

Jeff's Second Family is a program of Food For Children, Inc., a not-for-profit hunger relief organization based in New York City that also works to provide food, clothing, education, and assistance to the poor — especially in developing nations.

"We believe that each person, regardless of past mistakes, carries inherent dignity and deserves to be loved as one of God's Children." — Jeff's Second Family Ministry
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"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Matthew 25:35–40
Real Impact

The ministry by the numbers

Every number here represents real people writing real letters to other real people.

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Verified volunteers
0
Active correspondences
0
States & territories reached
0
Inmates in our Ministry

Data is live and updates as the ministry grows.

The Process

How It Works

Simple, quick, and meaningful — from registration to your first letter in four steps.

1
📋

Register

Create your free account.

2
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Verify & Browse

Confirm your email, then browse our waiting list of inmates who are eager to receive letters.

3
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Request a Match

Choose an inmate you'd like to correspond with.

4
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Start Writing

Receive full instructions and begin a correspondence that can change two lives.

Waiting List

Inmates Waiting for a Pen Pal

— people waiting for someone to write

Pick a platform you may have experience with and up to 3 people will appear.

These are just three of the people waiting. Register free to see the full list and choose who to write to — it takes about a minute.

View All Waiting Inmates →
★★★★★
"Becoming a pen pal with Jeff's Second Family was one of the most meaningful things I've ever done. My correspondent and I have been writing for over a year. He says my letters are the only thing he looks forward to each week."
— Sarah M., Volunteer Pen Pal · Nashville, TN
The People Behind This Ministry

Meet the Ministry

A team of volunteers, an incarcerated visionary, and a shared belief that every person deserves to be seen.

Richard Holley
Co-Founder & Director

Richard has spent many years corresponding with incarcerated individuals across the United States. What began as a personal calling has grown into a structured ministry. The mission of the Ministry is to create correspondence opportunities between volunteers and incarcerated Souls, of mind and spirit, and based upon mutual kindness and respectfulness.

The PenPal Ministry is a program area of the non-profit organization, Food For Children, Inc., founded at Cabrini Medical Center in 1979, by Richard and Maureen Holley, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and many other healthcare colleagues to provide food, clothing, shelter, education, medicines, and potable water to people in developing countries.

Richard and Maureen Holley
Richard with his wife, Maureen Holley.
Harold Jeff Morrison
Harold Jeff Morrison
Founding Vision · Co-Founder

Harold Jeff Morrison is the person whose vision sparked this ministry. Writing from within the Texas Correctional System, Jeff believed that connection and correspondence could change lives on both sides of the bars. His faith that something real could be built from inside prison walls made Jeff's Second Family possible. The ministry carries his name as a reminder that the people we serve are never just recipients — they are leaders, brothers, and family.

Delilah Finkley Acquaah
Delilah Finkley Acquaah
Co-Founder

Delilah is a long-time friend of Richard, bonded through their shared faith, and a founding voice of Jeff's Second Family PenPal Ministry. She is one of nine siblings, a mother of two sons, a grandmother of three, and the devoted caregiver of her beloved mother, Cynthia. A long-time supporter and volunteer of the ministry, Delilah is also an independent singer-songwriter whose work spans Jazz, Ballads, Inspirational, Gospel, R&B, Rock 'n Roll, Neo Soul, and Vocal/Electronic Dance Music. Her songs and stories live at delilahfinkley.com and on most major streaming platforms.

Ibrahim Bondi
Ibrahim Bondi
International Coordinator

Ibrahim coordinates correspondence for all non-Securus E-Platforms and serves as the bridge for international volunteers wanting to participate in the ministry. His work ensures that volunteers from around the world can connect meaningfully with inmates regardless of which communication systems their facilities use.

Ibrahim also serves as the liaison for many Food For Children projects undertaken throughout Africa.

Chris Holley
Chris Holley
Technology & Operations

Chris leads the technology and operations side of the ministry — building and maintaining the digital platform that connects volunteers with inmates, and ensuring the system scales as the ministry grows. His work keeps the behind-the-scenes infrastructure running so the ministry can focus on the people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you might be wondering

Common questions from people considering becoming a pen pal. Don't see yours? Reach out — we read every message.

💰 Does it cost anything to be a pen pal?
Registering and participating on the penpalministry.org Portal is completely free. Once you decide to correspond with an incarcerated soul, the various E-Platforms require the purchase of an E-Stamp to correspond electronically, or the USPS method requires the purchase of a United States postage stamp.

You will never be asked to pay Jeff's Second Family or Food For Children, Inc. for anything. If any inmate ever asks you for money, please notify the ministry immediately.
🎂 Is there an age requirement to volunteer?
Yes — you must be 18 or older to volunteer as a pen pal with Jeff's Second Family.
✝️ Do I have to be religious to participate?
No. While this is a faith-based ministry and many of the inmates and volunteers draw strength from their faith, you do not need to be religious to participate. The core of the ministry is human connection and encouragement. Volunteers of all faith backgrounds (and none) are welcome. What matters is a genuine willingness to write to someone as a friend and to respect their dignity.
🤝 How are matches made? Can I choose who I write to?
Absolutely. After you register and verify your email, you browse our list of inmates who have specifically asked for a pen pal, read their introduction letters, and choose the person you feel called to correspond with. Each request is reviewed by the Ministry, usually within 48 hours. We never assign matches without your input.
👥 How many inmates can I correspond with at a time?
Most volunteers start with one pen pal. This ensures your correspondence gets the attention it deserves, and it respects the inmate's time too — they value consistency. Once you've had your first correspondence going for a while and are comfortable, you can request additional slots through your dashboard.
✉️ How do I actually send my letter?
It depends on the E-Platform your inmate uses, which is listed on their profile and in your approval email. Many inmates use Securus (a web-based messaging platform), some use ConnectNetwork, SMARTINMATE, or GettingOut (GTL), and some only receive physical USPS mail. After you're matched, your dashboard shows step-by-step instructions for whichever platform applies, plus the Ministry Return Address (USE ONLY THE MINISTRY RETURN ADDRESS) for USPS letters and a sample first letter template.
🔐 What personal information is maintained by the Ministry?
To register and for ongoing use of the Ministry Portal, just three Volunteer data elements are needed:

• Volunteer First Name
• Volunteer Last Name
• Volunteer E-Mail address

A 4th data element, Country you are corresponding from, is OPTIONAL.

No other personal information is needed from you.

The Ministry serves as the clearinghouse for any USPS correspondence between a Volunteer and an Inmate. This is why a volunteer will never use his or her personal mailing address on a USPS letter to an Inmate, but will only use the Ministry address as the volunteer's return address, which is:

Jeff's Second Family PenPal Ministry
c/o Food For Children, Inc.
70-22 165th Street
Flushing, NY 11365
ATTN: RICHARD

Digital platforms (Securus, ConnectNetwork, SMARTINMATE, GettingOut) have their own privacy protections built in. If you ever feel uncomfortable with any correspondence, reach out to the ministry — no explanation needed.
💭 What should I write about? I don't know what to say.
Nobody knows what to say at first! Keep your first letter simple — introduce yourself, share a little about your life experiences, and mention what drew you to their introduction letter. Safe topics include: your hobbies, books you've read, faith (if they've mentioned it), family life, your work, your garden, a pet, the weather, things you're grateful for, ordinary daily life.

Once you're matched, your dashboard provides a first-letter template you can adapt. Your first letter can be just 5–10 sentences — that's more than enough to get started.
⏳ How long does approval take?
Not long. You'll receive an email when your request is approved, or a notification if there is an issue with the match.
📪 What if my inmate stops writing back?
Inmate mail can be slow. Facilities sometimes delay letters for inspection, or the inmate may have limited access to their messaging platform for weeks at a time. Give it at least 2–3 weeks before worrying. If it's been over a month with no response, use our Contact form or email Richard at info@foodforchildren.org — he can sometimes check with the facility or let you know if the inmate has been transferred, released, or is facing other circumstances.
🛑 Can I stop writing if it's not a good fit?
Yes. You can end a correspondence at any time, for any reason, with no obligation and no explanation needed. Just use our Contact form or email Richard at info@foodforchildren.org and we'll help transition out gracefully on both sides. If you'd like to continue with a different match afterward, you can browse the waiting list again.
🌍 Can I be a pen pal from outside the United States?
Yes! International volunteers are welcome. Some inmate platforms (like Securus) work best for U.S.-based volunteers, but many inmates are reachable through non-Securus systems. Ibrahim, our International Coordinator, specifically helps pair international volunteers with inmates in non-Securus states and platforms. Just register as usual.

For more information about international correspondence, contact Ibrahim directly: ibrahimmasud833@gmail.com
🏛️ Is Jeff's Second Family PenPal Ministry a nonprofit program?
Yes. Jeff's Second Family PenPal Ministry is a program of Food For Children, Inc., which is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. You can learn more about the parent organization at foodforchildren.org. Tax-deductible donations can be made through Food For Children's secure donation page — see the Donate link in the navigation above.
Get Involved

Ready to make a difference?

For Volunteers

Become a Pen Pal Today

Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Browse our waiting inmates and request your first match. Every application is reviewed personally and you'll be guided through your first letter.

Register Free →
Support the Ministry

Help Us Reach More Inmates

This ministry runs entirely on donated time and resources. Jeff's Second Family is a program of Food For Children, Inc., a registered nonprofit. Your support helps us expand our reach and bring more volunteers on board.

💝 Donate to the Ministry →

Follow the Ministry

Stories, reflections, and updates from the field — shared across the platforms where we're building community.

Contact the Ministry

Questions about writing, your match, donating, or anything else? Send us a note and we'll get back to you. You don't need an email app — just fill this in.

Prefer email? Reach Richard at info@foodforchildren.org.