Over the years, I have received several letters from inmates incarcerated in state or federal facilities. These letters usually come from prisoners seeking pen pals, or from people who want to complain about the quality of the food at the prison.
So when I arrived in my office Monday, after an 11-day break, to find a letter from the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y., I knew exactly what I’d find when I opened the envelope.
And I was wrong.
What I actually found was a heartwarming missive that came from an inmate who wants to enter the world of foodservice when he is released. William Hinson wrote to me, asking for our help.
“I am submitting this letter in reference to your magazine and how it is inspiring me to take the foodservice experience I have obtained throughout my incarceration to a higher level,” wrote Hinson. “I have completed a 16-week Food Service Certification course that reflected on sanitation, equipment, safety [procedures] and recipes.
“I have four years hand-on experience on every level in the facility kitchen. Every evaluation I receive is above average, and the five days that I work [are] directly working with the facility foodservice administrator along with the head cooks.”
Hinson went on to explain that his goal is to become a registered dietitian. The challenge he faces is that he still has five years to go on his sentence. He wrote to me for recommendations for correspondence courses that would allow him to pursue his dream. His letter contained a P.S.: “I really hope this letter does not fall on deaf ears.”
This letter really touched me, in part because of the ambitiousness of the goal. It brought to my mind the Robert Browning quote: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” With so much cynicism in the world, particularly as it regards the rehabilitation of criminals, I think it would be a mistake for me not to try to do what I can to encourage this man.
So I intend to honor this man’s request and provide him with whatever information I can regarding the furthering of his education. I’d like your help—especially from the dietitians among our readership. What advice would you have for Mr. Hinson? What can he do during his confinement that would help him achieve his goal?
I invite readers to share their advice with me, which I will forward on to Mr. Hinson. If you also would like to offer your own letters of encouragement, please send them to me via email or to our offices at 90 Broad Street, Suite 402, New York, N.Y., 10004, and I will send them on as well.