BUTLER TWP — Dozens of snapshots line the walls above Bea Hickey's correspondence-filled desk — pictures of prisoners she has written to for nearly a decade.

Hickey, 71, moved two years ago from Hollywood, Fla., and brought a hobby, or mission, with her.

When her son was incarcerated in the late '90s on drug charges, she wanted to do something to help her son and his fellow prisoners.

After hearing about some situations between the officers and prisoners, Hickey began writing to 16 other men at her son's prison to learn about conditions from their perspectives. Soon she became a friend and confidant to these men and the word spread that "Aunt Bea" would write to prisoners.

That 16 grew to the almost 100 Florida prisoners she writes to today.

"Every letter I get, I answer," she said. She signs every letter with a "love you."

"They have to know someone loves them," she said.

Though she spends some time advocating for prisoners about disciplinary actions and educational programs, most of her writing time is spent relating to and encouraging her "guys and girls."

Out of her 100 pen pals, about 10 are women.

Recently, Hickey finished collecting 105 Valentine's Day cards to send to the prisoners so that they can send the cards to their loved ones. She sends Mother's Day cards and other occasion cards for the same purpose.

She also prints pictures off the Internet to use as homemade stationery the prisoners can use to write to their families.

"Iuse a lot of ink," she said.

The 45 to 50 letters she types every week take up a good portion of her evenings after her job at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in Boyers. The prisoners' family members also e-mail and call her often because she has become like family to their loved ones.

When she lived in Florida, Hickey would sometimes visit prisoners and even offered them re-entry help. Because of her background in human resources, it was easy for her to help the prisoners prepare for job interviews.

She started the Little Old Ladies in Tennis Shoes (LOLITS) in Florida, a group that writes to prisoners, and would like to start a Butler LOLITSchapter.

"It's very rewarding,"she said of the relationships she has gained.

She also keeps in contact with released prisoners.

Kevin Zicheck of Citrus County, Fla., wrote to Aunt Bea for eight of his 13 years in prison. Zicheck was released last year and works in landscaping.

"I don't know how, but she found me," he said.

He told her about some problems he was having in prison and she began writing and calling different departments and eventually got him transferred to a better camp, he said.

"She was writing me letters every single month. I don't think she ever missed a holiday," he said. "I don't even think they make a more loving, caring person."

Currently Hickey is trying to get the department of corrections to fix Zicheck's parole monitor, which goes off by mistake when he enters a house or building.

"The only person who will go out of the way for me is Aunt Bea,"he said.

When his parole ends in 2011, he too would like to join Hickey in helping prisoners by writing to them and advocating for them.

Hickey attends meetings with the Family and Friends of Inmates at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the Mental Health Association on Elm Street.

For information on writing to prisoners, call Hickey at 724-283-5713.