Scrooge and the Economy May Rob Prisoners’ Children of Joy this Year

525 El Paso and 100 Las Cruces Kids May Awake to Nothing on Christmas Morning

EL PASO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2008—Some of the youngest and most overlooked victims of the spiraling economy this Christmas may be the children of prisoners in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, N.M.

By every measure, prisoners' children are among the most severely at-risk children and teens in America.  Having an incarcerated parent often results in school behavior and performance problems as well as social stigma and shame (Vulnerability of Children of Incarcerated Addict Mothers: Implications for Preventive Intervention, Children and Youth Services Review, 2005).

"Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree reaches out to prisoners' children to help break the cycle of crime," said Prison Fellowship Executive Director Joel Ryan. "By offering them a Christmas gift on behalf of their incarcerated parent, you can help a child feel loved and strengthen the bond with their mom or dad. Research shows this can help their parent stay out of prison, once they are released." (Examining the Effect of Incarceration and In-Prison Family Contact on Prisoners' Family Relationships, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 2005)

How the people of El Paso and Las Cruces can help:

• "Adopt" an inmate's child this Christmas by calling (866) 333-6696 toll-free. 
• Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree® will tell you what a little boy or girl would like, their age and clothing size. 
• Drop off your Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree gifts at the home of the child by Christmas day to make a child's Christmas special-even while their parent is behind bars.

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program is the only nationwide effort, religious or secular, that reaches out exclusively to children whose fathers or mothers are behind bars.  Since the program's inception in 1982, more than 7.5 million children of prisoners have received some 16 million Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree gifts nationwide. 

How Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Works:
Throughout the summer, inmates are given the opportunity to sign their children up to receive Christmas gifts given by volunteers on behalf of the incarcerated parent.  Leading up to Christmas, each child's name and gift wishes are written on paper angels and hung on Christmas trees placed in participating churches.  Volunteers purchase and wrap the requested items and either deliver the gifts personally or host a party where the gifts are distributed to all the children sponsored.  Each child receives a toy or recreational item and an article of clothing.

Angel Tree doesn't end with Christmas.  That first Christmas connection can be the beginning of a rewarding, ongoing relationship with these children and their families.  As ministry to these families continues throughout the year, lives are often transformed and families are reconciled.

To find out how to get involved with Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree, call (866) 333-6696 or visit www.angeltree.org.

-30-