For the past several months, Google has led a unique campaign that reconnects children with their incarcerated parents through Project #LoveLetter. On Fathers’ Day, they showcased some of the #LoveLetters that kids sent to their incarcerated fathers.
As many know, the United States represents only 5 percent of the world population while holding 25 percent of the world’s prison population. That creates an estimated 2.7 million American children who are directly affected by an incarcerated parent. These numbers are astounding and became something that Google decided to act on by dedicating $3 million to organizations on the front lines of the fight for racial justice and the disruption the criminal justice system.
The individual who has committed the crime is not the only one who serves time. Their children and loved ones suffer the consequences as well. According to the USA Today Article originally featuring the story, over half of the population of parents in prisons have not seen their children since the time of their incarceration. This poses a challenge to both the incarcerated parent and their young children.
By giving these kids an opportunity to connect with their fathers, Google is starting to lead the way to a new method of sending love and hope not only to individuals behind bars, but also to their incredibly resilient children.
Since 1982, Angel Tree has strengthened the relationships between incarcerated parents and their family by delivering over 10 million Christmas gifts to children on behalf of their parent. If you would like to get involved and learn more about how you can make a big difference in a child’s life, please visit the Angel Tree page for more information.
