LOVE BEYOND BARS
When we as a society punish children for youthful misbehavior, we are taking away the very things they need most: love. Since 2016, as part of our Love Beyond Bars Campaign, FFLIC asks our supporters to help us deliver messages of love, encouragement, cards, candy, and holiday gift packages three times a year to about 300 incarcerated youth across Louisiana. The campaign includes:
- Stand in Love (Valentine’s Day)
- Step into Hope (Spring holidays)
- Step into Joy (Winter holidays)
While each campaign has its unique theme, what’s true across the board is that no child should be locked in a cage, away from their community and family. Yet, our system locks up kids because of poverty and lack of access to mental health supports and quality education. 57% of children in youth prisons are there for offenses that do not involve violence or weapons. 70-73% of incarcerated children have mental health and/or special education needs.
That’s why we need our systems to prioritize building a functional community of care that allows children to stay in their communities, get the supports they need, and grow into healthy adults.
While we advocate for holistic and life-affirming systems of support, we also offer our support in the form of encouragement and gifts to incarcerated youth. A small gesture of caring can mean the world to a young person who is facing the challenges of isolation and separation from family.
And we need you to make this happen!
$5
You can help us purchase a pair of socks for comfort.
$10
You can help us purchase a book or a calendar for knowledge.
$20
You can help us purchase a puzzle or a game to give the gift of joy.
$50-$100
You can help us purchase a t-shirt for warmth and comfort