The John Howard Society of Manitoba is asking for help to help families with incarcerated parents connect with their loved ones this Father’s Day through their Get the Story Out campaign. The campaign, run by the society’s literacy department, allows for parents in correctional facilities to record themselves reading to their children.
“One way we can support people who are currently incarcerated is to reach out to them, to have them record a story, and then, if they have kids, we take the book and bring it to the kids and the caregivers on the outside,” elaborates Aiden Enns with the John Howard Society. “This way, we can make a bridge between the fathers in custody and the children in the community.”
The storytelling component is enhanced this year by the work of volunteers like Winnipeg composer and songwriter Christine Fellows. Once the incarcerated parents record themselves reading the story, Fellows volunteers her time to enhance the gift for that parent’s family.
“When the recording comes out of the institution, we have it on a recording and then… what Christine does is she goes into her video, her audio recording studio and adds some music and sort of adds a curatorial element to it to really make for a nice package for the caregivers back home,” explains Enns.
The program has allowed for profound moments of connection for families, which is even more meaningful around family holidays like Father’s Day. “I'm thinking of one woman in particular who has several kids,” shares Enns of the impact this program has on families. “She describes how when you turn the tape on and you have the book and the father's voice comes in over the speakers, it's like he's really there.”
“There's some moments of sadness because you feel him there, but he's not there,” Enns continues, “but then there's also a profound moment of connection between the person, that he really does care and he is there in voice.”
Winnipeggers have the opportunity to support the Get the Story Out program with the help of McNally Robinson Booksellers, who have offered an option to purchase a $25 card that donates a book to an incarcerated parent looking to read to their child. Enns notes that contributions like these can go a long way to helping people reintegrate into society.
“One thing I've learned is my work here at the John Howard Society is that a real motivator for change for men who are in conflict with the law and doing some time in custody is their changing status as a father and want to do better and to do right with their kids,” says Enns. “Many of them are asking and waiting in line for the opportunity to receive one of these children books to do a brief intro for their kids. It's really quite profound.”