by Kyle Kim-Hays
Most of us are aware that the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with over 1.7 million people in local jails and state or federal prisons. But these are not the innocent referenced by the title. At least 50% of prisoners are parents with minor children and over 200,000 of these children live in Arizona. These are the children you have an opportunity to help.
These children, despite their indisputable innocence, are at statistically higher risk of being disenfranchised and intergenerational incarceration. Their chances of graduating from college drop by more than half (compared to overall averages). And factors like race and which parent is incarcerated only make things worse. In short, children of the incarcerated are in a cycle not of their making. But you can begin to make a difference.
Project Angel Tree, a program of Prison Fellowship Ministries, has been providing children Christmas gifts on behalf of their mothers and fathers in prison for over 30 years. Parishes like yours volunteer to collect and distribute gifts to these lonely and hurting children, with thoughtful and programmatic support from Project Angel Tree. You’d be surprised how, even though you may never know it, your kind gesture at the right moment can make all the difference. And, several of these children have gone on to attend Camp Genesis, our Diocesan camp that focuses on the special needs of these at-risk kids.
It’s easy to think that Christmas is a half year away, but programs like this are not insignificant – and the work starts now. If you’re interested in finding out how your church can bring Project Angel Tree to your parish, see https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/ or contact Kyle Kim-Hays at k2hays@gmail.com.
