On rare occasions, you meet someone whose whole life is dedicated to shining a light upon those in the dark. My good friend Julie Zimmerman is such a person.

In 2001, Julie helped launch College Guild, a nonprofit organization in Brunswick, which offers free correspondence courses to prisoners around the country. “We wanted to give respect to the least respected, most disenfranchised members of our society. We wanted prisoners to know that someone beyond the prison walls cared enough about them to spend time reading what they had to say.” College Guild’s bold mission reflects these thoughts: “Respect Reduces Recidivism.”

“I wanted the courses to be creative, but not accredited,” Julie explains. Today, College Guild offers about 25 different courses, covering a range of topics, such as Creative Language, Philosophy, History, Health and the Numbers Game. Over the last 17 years, about 4,000 students have completed at least one unit. About 180 volunteers — including students from Bowdoin and Bates, both of which sponsor College Guild clubs — read and comment upon the prisoners’ submissions. Powerful word-of-mouth among prisoners has created a huge demand for College Guild, resulting in the need to maintain a long waiting list.

College Guild runs on a streamlined budget, thanks in part to the fact that Julie Zimmerman has never taken a dime for the thousands of hours she has dedicated to the organization. The staff consists of two part time employees in addition to an Interim Director who was recently hired to prepare for the time when Julie must give up her supervisory responsibilities.

Julie Zimmerman’s debilitating health issues underscore her remarkable dedication. A neurological condition makes it difficult for her to sit or to stand for long, and she cannot drive. The heartfelt appreciation expressed by prisoners keeps Julie going strong, head high, heart filled. Indeed, the office’s file drawers contain hundreds of appreciative letters and drawings from prisoners whose lives have been forever changed by the work and worth of College Guild.

Here are some thoughts one prisoner expressed in his recent letter of appreciation to College Guild volunteers. “Though I’m quite sure my College Guild story isn’t unique, it’s the only one I have to tell, so here goes. I found College Guild about the time I lost everything, and when I say that College Guild changed my life, I mean it. I robbed a bank, and in the course of a long, drawn out and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide via alcohol and drugs, I received an 84-month sentence. I lost everything and everyone and really had no intentions of living the amount of time I was destined to serve. A lot of people kill themselves in prison, and after my arrest, I felt like maybe those folks were on to something.

“Then College Guild came along, and I’ve gone from writing suicide notes that nobody would ever read to writing poetry and prose that thousands of people have read. Almost everything I’ve ever published started out as a College Guild writing course assignment. The constructive criticism, honest feedback and endless encouragement I’ve received from the volunteer readers I’ve been lucky enough to work with have been priceless. The donors put the gas in the tank, but you, the volunteers, you are the engine that moves everything. You are what makes an impact, and I, for one, cannot thank you enough.”

For information on ways to volunteer or contribute to College Guild, go to www.collegeguild.org. Or send an email to me at the address below. Thanks.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary or suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at