Remke met with a group of 14 men at the prison in Northumberland County, who are TriumpH and Lifeline members. The organizations provide opportunities for the incarcerated to give back to communities through charitable giving.

Including groups working with children, food pantries and other non profits. Remke spoke about the American Rescue Workers

“Established in 1995, TriumpH organization is an altruistic, service organization built on the foundation of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Unity, Morals, Pride, and Honesty. Our purpose is to promote and provide positive interactions and opportunities for self-improvement, social responsibility, and community service. TriumpH’s ideals extend beyond the walls of confinement by supporting worthy causes and organizations, in our local community with charitable donations,” said a representative from the Department of Corrections at SCI Coal Township.

“Any resident at SCI Coal Township is eligible to join. However, they must be in good standing in the institution,” they added.

One of the 14 inmates listen closely to Jenn Rempe from the American Rescue Workers Williamsport talks with “incarcerated citizens” at SCI Coal Township recently during a visit she made to the prison. The inmates have 2 charitable organizations that donate money they’ve raised from other inmates to help a number of charities including the ARW-Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Since 2001 TriumpH has donated more than $174,000 to area charities and non profits, according to the DOC.

“The Lifeline Association was established in 2016 by a group of individuals serving life and long-term sentences at SCI Coal Township, who had a vision of making their environment and society as a whole, a better place,” according to the DOC.

The groups work through fundraising within the prison population.

About 2,400 men are incarcerated at SCI Coal Township and 240 participate in the two charitable programs.

“They do fundraisers inside the prison, just like outside groups. In that sense they are like every other donor or group. However, the difference is when we look closer. When we realize these guys are making at most 50 cents an hour on average. When we look closer we see that they buy things we take for granted and then use those things (commodities inside a prison) and use them as a fundraising tool,” shared Remke about the impact.

One of the 14 inmates listen closely to Jenn Rempe from the American Rescue Workers Williamsport talks with “incarcerated citizens” at SCI Coal Township recently during a visit she made to the prison. The inmates have 2 charitable organizations that donate money they’ve raised from other inmates to help a number of charities including the ARW-Williamsport. The group “Triumph” raise money from fund raising sales from other inmates. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The group that met with Remke during her recent visit, listened intently to what she told them about how the American Rescue Workers helps people in need and the upcoming fund raising events that they have planned.

The ARW has been working with the men at the prison since the fall of 2025, according to Remke.

The 14 men in the classroom, all wearing the maroon uniforms with “D.O.C” on their backs, talked about how they feel as inmates or incarcerated citizens as they prefer to be called, and how they have the same purpose by donating thousands of dollars a year into various community charities.

“All the volunteers advance the quality of life not just of the people inside the prison, but outside the walls as well,” shared Willis, an incarcerated citizen, on the ways the Triumph and Lifeline programs affect people.

The men lean into the idea that they’re a community, just an incarcerated community. The fact that they call themselves “incarcerated citizens,” was born from the idea that they will not be defined by their crimes.

This small change in language means a lot to the men, the idea of reclaiming some dignity by not thinking of themselves as only inmates but as members of a vibrant society, one that’s behind the walls of the prison, shared Evan.

Many of the men spoke of the way participating in these programs and giving back to the community helps them on their path of personal redemption.

One-by-one the men nodded and smiled as they talked about the importance of making up, in some small way, for the crimes they’ve committed and how they feel this is a way to not only build a community of support for each other while they’re doing time, but also to help society outside the prison in very specific ways.

“Collectively we’ve caused a lot of harm,” said another participant and finds it therapeutic to give back in this way.

Remke updated the group on the “Coldest Night of Year,” a 5K fundraiser the ARW is hosting on Feb. 28. for which the group at SCI Coal Township has raised $1,000.

Donating to an organization in our area is important as many inmates have relatives here.

“We have a connection to Williamsport, we have a lot of aunts and uncles and other family there,” shared Willis.

Nearly 90 percent of inmates will return to society after their sentence is completed. Once they leave the prison, a new set of challenges awaits.

“The number one barrier is falling back into their old ways and relationships, but also include maintaining their sobriety (either while here, or after graduation), transportation, and finding employment opportunities that suit their needs,” said Remke.

The two programs focus on helping instill values to improve the self worth and rebuild the character of the men. This has been done by each new generation of the inmates from older to the younger generation, according to Nyako.

“Talking about sharing wisdom and helping people find meaning in their lives to return the favor and to pay it forward,” Nyako added.

“It makes you feel human, to give back and to struggle to recapture their humanity is empowering,” shared Shawn about his work with the charitable giving.

Karen Vibert-Kennedy contributed to this report.