Christmas Cards

Our local Christmas card program aims to put as many Christmas cards as possible into the hands of incarcerated individuals. This program began in 1994.

Christmas Cards for Incarcerated – Delivering Hope, One Envelope at a Time - 
One of CentrePeace’s most cherished traditions, the Christmas Cards for Incarcerated program brings light and love into prison cells during the holiday season. For many who are incarcerated, the holidays can be a time of isolation and sorrow. These cards—handwritten, heartfelt, and filled with messages of peace—become tangible reminders that they are not forgotten.

Each year, organizations across seven states request blank cards to decorate. Amish schoolchildren, nursing home residents, church groups, and community volunteers all take part, offering messages of encouragement, scripture, and joy to those who may feel unseen. This year, CentrePeace distributed 10,000 blank cards to be returned by November 15, in time to meet facility deadlines—many of which fall before Thanksgiving.

Every card is carefully screened to ensure facility guidelines are followed: no glitter, no stickers, just words and art that carry grace. Once approved, they are packed and delivered to correctional facilities where they become more than seasonal greetings—they become lifelines.

Restoration in Action
These cards are small acts of kindness with profound impact. They remind recipients that grace reaches behind bars, that the spirit of Christmas belongs to everyone, and that healing can begin with a single envelope.

What We’ve Heard
If you click on the photos in this post, you’ll see actual cards sent and letters we’ve received in response. The second photo is a note an actual card this individual received in 2018. The recipient returned it to us in April. They wanted us to know they got out of prison, kept this letter for years and hoped that we understood the value of this program. He hopes that somehow Lindsay finds out what an impact this card made on his life.

The gratitude is overwhelming. One recipient wrote simply, “I didn’t think anyone remembered me. This card made me cry.”

This is the heart of CentrePeace: restoration not just of employment or housing, but of hope, dignity, and the belief that every person is worthy of love.