I found crocheting while I was incarcerated, almost by accident. It started as a way to pass the time, but it quickly became something grounding. In a place where days can blur together, working with my hands gave me structure and a sense of calm I had not felt in a long time.

That experience became the foundation for Convict to Crochet Healing Threads Ministries. Today, we collect large amounts of donated yarn and bring it into prisons, where incarcerated men create blankets, hats, and handmade items that are then shared with people who need them most. Nothing is sold. Everything is given freely. What matters most is not the finished product, but the opportunity for the people inside to take part in something that reaches beyond the walls around them.

At its core, this work is about restoring connection. It is about creating a bridge between people who are incarcerated and the communities they are part of, whether they realize it or not. When I was paroled, I knew I could not keep living the way I had before. What began with a single crochet hook and one person in need has grown into an effort that now touches hundreds of lives. Giving back through something as simple as yarn and time has become my way of repairing what I once damaged and choosing a different path forward.