The Message behind Torn Pages
By REBEKAH MELOY, Special to The Paper
Twenty-two years ago in prison, Jay Gardner saw hope in a necklace worn by a fellow inmate; the beads of the necklace were crafted from colorful, torn pieces of paper.
“God knocked on my heart,” Gardner recalls as God showed him the meaning of the torn pages – they represented how each person’s life had been ripped and torn from events in their lives.
God showed him how those rips and tears could be mended back together to make something beautiful. He bought the necklace and began the journey to help those leaving prison receive a second chance and to send a reminder that each one of us has a page that has been torn out.
Gardner’s prison sentence was set for 20 years, and for 17 of those years, he created and pursued his business, Torn Pages. With the help of his inmates and a Facebook friend from Uganda, Gardner started making his own beads with torn paper and floor wax. They “cut the paper in angles, rolled, glued, and varnished.” The beads and $500 were sent to Uganda for his friend to finish the jewelry.
Since his release five years ago, Gardner has dedicated more time, energy, and passion into the growth of his non-profit organization. Over the years, he has developed partnerships with three villages in Uganda and received aid from other non-profit organizations: Camp Grace, a pair Coweta County organizations – Coweta Force and Real Life Center, and Empowering Men and Women on the Move. He adds, “We all have a story of torn pages…together we can change the world.”
Twenty-thousand jewelry pieces are being released each year, allowing for Gardner’s message to grow. Money that is collected from the sales of the jewelry goes toward those exiting prison with nothing more than a $35 check.
“Hope, Peace, and Strength,” is the motto of The Torn Pages Organization. “Son, it’s a reflection of torn pages,” Gardner recollects what God was telling him, that the torn pages are a reflection of each person. Like the torn paper being made new again into a bead, a person’s life can be made new again. Having hope, peace, and strength allows these men and women to start again with a fighting chance at life, just like these torn pages.
If you are interested in learning more about Torn Pages and Jay Gardner, check out his website: https://www.tornpages.org/.
