New greeting cards meant for loved ones behind bars

Published 9:00 pm Monday, March 6, 2006

WICHITA, Kan. – Brenda Guiden was having trouble finding greeting cards for her two brothers in prison.

“I didn’t find anything appropriate, as far as what I wanted to say,” Guiden said. “They said a little bit, but they really didn’t touch home the way I wanted them to.”

The thought of creating greeting cards for inmates initially started as a joke, she said. But by December the idea had developed into a new business.

Prison Expressions now offers greeting cards in English and Spanish for inmates, their friends and families. Most of Guiden’s sales come from word of mouth or from fliers she passes out.

Some of the cards are humorous, with messages such as, “Happy to hear from you! But WHERE’s the money?” Others are more serious: “You know the choice you made when you were out. You know that it did not only hurt you, but it hurt us too. However, we still love you. Love always, Family.”

The cards sell for $5 each online, $4 at two Wichita shops and $1 for inmates.

The company is working on having about 50 different card designs and hope to have new ones by Mother’s Day.

“It’s important for their families to let them know they are not a disgrace,” Guiden said. “They’re the ones who really need us.”