In a quiet but powerful gesture of compassion, members of the Order of Malta recently came together to offer encouragement and hope to men transitioning from incarceration to life in the community. Inspired by the late Beryl Horowitz—a Holocaust survivor who once exchanged letters with Jewish prisoners in Brooklyn and saved a nineteen-year-old named David from taking his own life—the group sought to continue his legacy of human connection through written words that affirm dignity and worth.

At a recent gathering, members reflected on books that had brought them comfort or renewed faith during difficult times. Each member chose a title, purchased a copy, and wrote a personal note explaining why the book had inspired them. These books and handwritten cards were then delivered to a halfway house in Connecticut, where residents received them as gifts of encouragement.

The responses from residents spoke volumes. One man, Brad, wrote about The Shack: “I saw this movie and liked it but think I like this book better. It gives me hope.” Billy, who received Winnie the Pooh, shared, “This brings me back to my childhood when life was light and I had no problems.” Others echoed similar feelings of gratitude and recognition—whether reflecting on The Nightingale, Educated, or Discipline Equals Freedom. One man, after reading The Rainbow Fish, drew a powerful parallel to his own recovery: “I want to give my recovery and experience away like him and his shiny scales.”

For both the givers and receivers, the exchange transcended simple charity—it created connection, remembrance, and renewal. As one member reflected, “We set out to give hope, but we received it in return.”

Through their effort, the Connecticut Area embodies a timeless truth: that even a simple message—“You matter. You are more than your worst mistake”—can become a lifeline, lighting the way toward healing and redemption.