A Mano Libera - Freehand

We all want second or even third chances in life. That desire is deeply rooted in all of us, and we readily support granting it to those who, by admitting their faults, seek redemption and are willing to get back into the game, demonstrating to others that one can learn from mistakes to become "reborn" people.

In keeping with this spirit, the Saint Pio Foundation launched the "Green Mile" initiative to support the "A Mano Libera - Senza Barre" (“Freehand – Without Bars”) project of the San Vittore Association of the Diocese of Andria. A Mano Libera was founded by Father Don Riccardo Agresti, a priest known for his strength, courage, pragmatism, and faith in his neighbor.

This project is an alternative to detention for inmates and ex-inmates of Italian prisons. Motivated by a strong desire for personal and social redemption, program participants work on a 25-acre farm in Andria, Italy, where they learn artisanal skills and produce taralli, a popular Italian snack food.

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, the project “A Mano Libera - Senza Sbarre" (“Freehand - Without Bars”), was introduced to Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Fr. Agresti’s words on the day of the presentation of the A Mano Libera - Senza Sbarre project to Pope Francis say it best: "We are a team with a very strong inner motivation: to reintegrate those who still have much to offer and not to give in, as Pope Francis teaches us, to the culture of waste."

Thanks to the Saint Pio Foundation these snacks will be made available in the United States so that you can help us making a difference that can have a big impact on persons, who are at the bottom of society.

You can purchase a carton of four packages of taralli for $50 or a case of twelve packages for $100. Each package weighs 8.8 ounces (250 grams), and shipping is free in the United States.

We invite you to watch the videos at the beginning and end of this message to learn more about this noble and significant initiative, and we encourage you to purchase a case of this product borne of hope. By supporting this unique project, you will be offering a real second chance to those who seek one.

Lend a helping hand. Make a difference. Be a part of offering a real second chance to those who need it most.

Note: For those who wish to purchase this product with a check, please make the check payable to “Saint Pio Foundation,” write "freehand" in the check’s memo field, and mail the check to: Saint Pio Foundation, 24 Depot Square, Tuckahoe, NY 10707.