Writing Letters to Detainees by Grannies Respond https://padlet.com/granniesrespond/letters Project Sponsered by Grannies Respond https://www.facebook.com/granniesrespond/ en-us 2018-08-20 04:13:12 UTC 2019-03-07 05:57:55 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Hearts.png Instructions granniesrespond https://padlet.com/granniesrespond/letters/wish/273971308 The purpose of these letters is to provide some contact with the outside world and encourage the spirits of the detainees. In fact, letters are one of the few personal items that they are allowed to have in detention. The letters should be positive and uplifting, offering hope.  

Please hand print the letters (no cursive) and it is encouraged that you use colored paper, scrapbooking stock or decorate your paper.

Keep the letters short and the phrasing simple.  Many of the detainees do not speak Spanish as their native language and/or are only marginally literate.

Write letters as a group or by yourself and then bulk mail the letters to one of the addresses below.  The letters will be carried into the detention centers by those who are permitted to visit with detainees, such as lawyers or those working for the law offices.

Please sign the letters with Granny (your first name) if you are a granny or a friend of the grannies. Otherwise just use your first name.

Attached are a template of a short note translated into Spanish and a list of phrases translated into Spanish.  Do not confine yourself to these, but this might get you started.  Google translate can help but may have grammatical errors, a strong suggestion is to consult with a Spanish speaker for alternate phrases.  When the Grannies wrote their letters during our day of action, many of them wrote the note both in English and in Spanish.

Send the letters in bulk to 

Jodi Goodwin, ESQ.
1221 East Harrison Avenue
Harlingen, TX 78550-7127
http://www.jodigoodwin.com/
(she is an immigration attorney working directly with detainees)
 
Spanish Phrases:

May God Bless you - (Que Diosle bendiga) Que Dios le bendiga

You are not alone, we are with you - (Nosotros estamos presentes con usted, no estas solo)  Tu no estas solo, nosotros estamos contigo

Do not despair - (No se desespere) this is correct but not commonly used.  The better phrase would be, Do not give up hope - No pierdas tu fe

Many Americans welcome you and wish you well - (Hay muchos ciudadanos americanos que les apoya y le manadamos saludos)

Hay muchos Americanos que te damos la bienvenida y te deseamos lo mejor para ti y tu familia

From my heart to yours - (Desde mi corazon al suyo)  Del fondo de mi corazon te deseo buena suerte

I send encouragement and hope - (envio aliento y esperanza) Te envio mucha fe y esperanza

We wish to welcome you to our country - deseamos darte la bienvenida a nuestro pais


Hello friend - Hola amigo 
Granny - Abuelita
Greetings and salutations - Saludos y bienvenidos
I understand that you are in difficult circumstances, but I nevertheless hope that you are well.  What I want to say is this.  Do not despair.  There are many People in the Unites States that are worried about you.   We want to welcome you to our country.  I want you to understand that when you are released from detention, there are many people willing to help you.


With all my heart,Granny (first name)
Yo entiendo que te encuentras en momentos muy dificiles.  Pero espero que te encuentres tranquilo.  Lo que quiero aconsejarte que nunca pierdas la fe.Hay muchas personas que les gustaria ayudarte en estos momentos, y darte la bienvenida a nuestro pais.  Solo entiende una cosa, que cuando tengas tu libertad hay muchas personas listas para ayudarte.
Te deseo de todo corazon,Abuelita (first name)


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