Pen Pals (6-8-06)
by Janine M. Ziomek-Witek (Buffalo, New York)
Janine M. Ziomek-Witek writes:
I’m writing you this note for a few reasons. Also if you would like to print this in the
newsletter you
can. First I would like to say I’m glad all the get well cards were forwarded.
Also there’s a little mix-up, you see when Doyle
Carter wrote you
Need Pen Pals,” he should have wrote out my full name. You see my nick name is Jan! So Janine and Jan from Buffalo
New York are one. So you know this now and I’m sorry for the mix up.
I would like to share some things dealing with
it. First, I would like to say I know Rhoda Young personally for over 15 years and I’m sorry to say she’s still a little scared from
what happened to her but is dealing with it better now. But still needs time yet.
But for good news, I have been pen-paling with
2 male inmates for over 6 months (this one also gets your
newsletter) and 1 for 2 months. As Christopher Bartch said I’m using caution
and common sense. When I get a letter/card from an inmate I write them, him/her that there are some ground rules that I and my husband
come up with, and the writer of the letter is told of them. If they can follow them, mainly safety ones so we don’t end up with problems
like Rhoda Young did, and if they agree to them, then I will write to them. So far they have kept them and they understand why we
have them. Like Christopher Bartch knows some inmates are unscrupulous but others are good hearted as well.
I will have to say
that the 2 inmates who write me are a blessing to me and I am to them. They don’t ask for much, just someone who will write, listen
to them, and share the truth. I like to draw and have sent drawings to both and my drawings or kind words make their day. And they
have sent drawings, cards and just letters dealing with life here.
A lot of inmates don’t have family or friends who care about
them and the inmates are on their own. So they don’t have friends and family that write to them.
I will admit not everyone has
the calling to do this type of work. But I was told that this is a calling. And I would like to bless 1 or 2 female inmates now. I
am on a low income and can’t write to a lot because of cost of stamps. But if someone would like to help with this you can write me
at: Janine M. Ziomek-Witek, 165 Stanislaus St., Apt. 1, Buffalo, NY 14212, but only if you like to. I have the time to write and paper/envelopes,
just not the stamps as much. But I would just like to say, I’m glad to bless the ones I can and it’s a blessing to me as well.
Well
I guess that’s it for now. I like the new look of the
newsletter and thank you for your card as well. Well I must go for now, write
soon or when you can. God Bless, Janine (Jan) M. Ziomek-Witek
Laura Lee writes:
Hi Jan, we need to apologize to you and anyone
else whose letter has taken this long or longer to answer or print. What we have are many letters and not always time to answer them.
So we are sorry for that and we are trying to get through the many letters we have here yet.
I hope that you have been able to
find some female inmates to write to and that all is still working out with the rest of your pen pals. Thank you for sharing this
letter with all of us.
