A Lifeline in Ink

For some MA Center Michigan volunteers, service does not begin with a plan or a program. It begins in grief—when life has been irrevocably changed—and with a quiet inner nudge to keep the heart open. After her beloved adult son, Jon, passed away, volunteer Nishkama, found herself searching for a way to live alongside her loss without closing herself off from the world. In the midst of that tender and uncertain time, she felt drawn to a simple act: writing letters of encouragement to people in need.

She shares, “After the death of my beautiful son Jon, Amma once again came to my aid. She was encouraging people to send letters of care to those in need, and something in me felt called to begin writing.”

What started as a small gesture—pen to paper—slowly unfolded into a twenty-year correspondence with a young man named Antoine. At just sixteen years old, he had entered a Texas state prison, carrying a fifty-year sentence shaped by difficult choices and circumstances. Their letter exchange took place within strict, clear and careful safety guidelines, yet what emerged was something deeply human. This form of service follows strict safety guidelines.

Reflecting on those years, Nishkama explains, "While this program was designed to help those in need, it was my heart that was also healing from this connection. Antoine's circumstances were often so dire that I came to deeply understand the great need for compassion in this special friendship. It helped me begin to heal from my own sense of staggering loss.”

For two decades, they wrote back and forth. Letter after letter, the connection held, sustained by committment, patience and care, despite the immense distance and isolation between them..

Another volunteer, Carin, also felt called to participate in the project. She began writing to an incarcerated individual named Malaki, and over time, her letters became a steady source of light and encouragement in his life. After many years, Malaki was released. His journey was later shared through a PBS documentary. Today, he is married and has recently welcomed a baby daughter—steps into a new life shaped by resilience, support, and possibility.

Antoine, too, was released last year after earning an early release, having become a model citizen during his incarceration. His friendship with Nishkama continues to this day. This past Christmas, he sent her a card with words that quietly reflect the impact of her unwavering presence: 

"Thank you for being the candle that brings the light that has touched many hearts and lives.”

These stories speak to the gentle power of Circle of Love: Letters Inside—a project rooted in thoughtful outreach, care, and clear safety guidelines. More than a letter-writing effort, it is a choice to reach toward connection where isolation runs deep. Through consistency, patience, and care, these volunteers remind us that service does not always change circumstances overnight—but it can transform lives over time. Sometimes, a letter becomes a lifeline. And sometimes, in reaching out to help another, we discover a quiet path toward healing ourselves.

Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the inmates in this story have been changed.