First Letter (Sample)
Date
Complete Name, Prison Number
Institution
Mailing Address
City, ST, Zip
Dear FIRST NAME,
Your name was provided to me by Chattanooga Endeavors. I understand that you would like to be a part of Stephen’s Table to stay in touch during the remainder of your time in prison.
Either I or another volunteer will continue to communicate with you until you are within 3-6 months of returning home. Then, we will introduce you to members of the Chattanooga Endeavors staff who will guide you through the reentry process. Chattanooga Endeavors has resources to help with many of things you might need in the community to reestablish yourself.
I look forward to getting to know you. Please let me know a little bit about you and your interests. I’m happy to write about whatever is on your mind.
[Introduce yourself by saying something about what you enjoy doing as a hobby, something that is going on in Chattanooga, and how the weather has been. However, as a reminder, don’t include any personally identifying information like your birthday, where you live, where you work, where you children go to school. Instead, speak to these things generically.]
Enclosed is a self-addressed stamped envelope for you to write back. I’ll continue to enclose return envelopes with my letters so you don’t have to be concerned with the cost of postage. In case you want to write more frequently, the address to use to reach me and the other volunteers:
Stephen’s Table
c/o Chattanooga Endeavors
PO Box 3351
Chattanooga, TN 37404-0351
Respectfully,
YOUR FIRST NAME, On behalf of Stephen’s Table
- Bullet
Note: Highlight.
