As an Executive Board Member for Freedom Grow, I wear many hats—but each role connects back to the same mission: supporting prisoners and their families through compassion, communication, and connection.
I serve as Board Secretary and also as the Administrator of the Freedom Grow CorrLinks Program. Through CorrLinks, I speak with prisoners every single day, keeping them updated on current laws and breaking news regarding cannabis reform. Many of the men and women I speak with feel forgotten by the outside world, so having someone to listen and share information with them is deeply meaningful.
Sometimes an inmate just wants to share that they received on an exam in a class they are participating in. And sometimes it is to share the joy that they have just received their release date. Other times they request that we write a letter in support of of them for a judge in an upcoming court proceeding.
But my greatest joy comes from serving as Wish Coordinator. Our Wish Program provides commissary funds, books, magazines, and special gifts for prisoners and their families to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and milestones. These moments may seem small, but to someone behind bars, and to their loved ones, they mean the world.
Some of the most memorable wishes I’ve had the privilege to fulfill include:
- Sending flowers and chocolates for Mother’s Day.
- Ordering a birthday gift for a child, so they know their parent is still present in their life.
Putting emergency funds on their phone service so they can remain in contact with their families. - Providing personalized gifts for mothers, reminding them that their children, even from prison, love and honor them.
Personalized blankets with their son’s name on it for their mother to wrap their arms in is particularly meaningful.
Another gift that was particularly special was from a father whose daughter was getting married, and he wanted her to know that he was with her in spirit for her special day by sending her flowers.
A particularly emotional gift was a request I received from an inmate whose grandmother was in hospice, dying of cancer, and he requested organic vitamins.
One of the most meaningful aspects of this work is ordering educational materials – whether for classes or for self-learning.
These resources give prisoners the tools to prepare for their transition back to the working world, helping them develop skills, gain knowledge, and ultimately build a future where they can support themselves and their families. The impact of a single book or course can ripple far beyond prison walls.
These simple gestures do more than provide comfort—they help families stay connected, maintaining bonds that are often strained by incarceration. Knowing that a mother received flowers from her son, or a child opened a birthday present “from Dad,” is an indescribable joy.
Every message I send, every gift I coordinate, is a reminder that while someone may be behind prison walls, they are not forgotten.
That’s what our program is about: helping families stay connected. Behind every prison sentence is a web of loved ones, mothers, fathers, and children who continue to need each other. These wishes help bridge the distance, reminding both sides that love can’t be locked away.
For me, this work is not just about advocacy for cannabis prisoners—it’s about humanity, dignity, and keeping hope alive. Every flower sent, every book purchased, every message delivered is a reminder that no one is forgotten.
At Freedom Grow, we believe that compassion can change lives. If you would like to be a part of that change, consider supporting our Wish Program. Together, we can continue to bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.
To donate or learn more, please visit FreedomGrow.org
More on the Freedom Grow Wish Program
The Freedom Grow Wish Program helps bridge the distance between cannabis prisoners and their loved ones, reminding both sides that love can’t be locked away.
A powerful example of this is the story of Kristopher Fetter, a cannabis prisoner on our outreach list. With his daughter’s birthday approaching, Kristopher wanted to send her a special gift. He asked if we could send a custom yellow hoodie with her last name and soccer player number in pink to keep her warm at practice. We fulfilled this wish, and his 6-year-old daughter received a birthday gift from her dad, making her incredibly happy.
This is just one facet of the Wish Program, which is broken down into two main parts:
Books/Magazines: We provide our POWs with books, magazine subscriptions, and newspapers. These materials help entertain, educate, and keep them focused, making the time pass more constructively.
Family Outreach: A common struggle for those incarcerated is feeling cut off from their families, especially around holidays. They often feel helpless, with expensive phone calls or letters as their only means of connection. Our program helps them maintain strong bonds by sending gifts and messages on their behalf for occasions like Mother’s Day, birthdays, weddings, or Valentine’s Day.
By granting these wishes, we help prisoners maintain healthy relationships, feel like valuable members of their families, and combat the loneliness of incarceration. The Wish Program restores a piece of the dignity that prison takes away, allowing them to continue creating precious memories with their loved ones. We believe that a cannabis-related prison sentence shouldn’t stop them from showing love.
