Hide Article Text (OCR)
Project gifts children of prisonersBy David HeitzNorth County NewsWhen it’s Christmas and children are opening presents, the most cherished gifts usually come from their parents or Santa.Those are the packages that boys and girls rip open in anticipation of finding exactly what they asked for— maybe something even betterBut Santa has a way of forgetting about the children of Southern California's prison inmates.When mom or dad is in prison, there usually are no gifts from Santa or the incarcerated parent. Sometimes both parents are behind bars.Neal Odom, a member of Anaheim First Christian Church, is in charge of filling Santa’s boots and bringing some of that Christmas magic to the children he calls “the forgotten victims of the crimes.”He’s the area director of Project Angel Tree for Southern California, a program that last year filled the wish lists of more than 6,000 children of inmates from this part of the country.This year, almost 8,000 childrenare expected to have gifts under the tree at Christmas because of Project Angel Tree’s efforts.Through Project Angel Tree, churchgoers in Anaheim, Orange County and areas nationwide can sponsor the child of a prison inmate.Odom and his wife, Judy, contact all of the churches in Southern California in May and ask them how many children they would like tosponsor.In the meantime, prison chaplains visit cells and ask inmates if they would like their children toreceive gifts at Christmas.The names of those children are then forwarded to churches by ZIP code. Church leaders call the guardians of the children and ask them to find out what the children would like for Christmas.The child’s name and wish list is printed on a cardboard angel and hung on trees in church lobbies. Members of the congregation can then sponsor a child, spendingabout $40 on three gifts — a piece of clothing, a toy and a religious item.When the presents are delivered, the gift tag says, “Love, Dad” or Mom, depending on wrho the imprisoned parent is.“The kids still love their parents and would like to be with them,” Odom said. “To see these kids faces light up and see that their dad (or mom) hasn’t forgotten them — it’s just a pleasure.This year, the inmates will get to see those happy faces, too. People who deliver the presents will take a picture of the child opening his or her gift and send it to the parent.Odom’s church is sponsoring more than 100 children of Anaheim prisoners. Magnolia Baptist Church, also in Anaheim, is buyinggifts for 31 children.Nathan Zug, youth pastor at Magnolia, said his congregation demonstrates a tremendous support for the program. He said that when the church contacts the caregivers of inmates’ children, theyoften are very surprised.“They were just really amazed and thankful that somebody would care about the kids,” he said. “Most of the time they’re like, ‘Who are you and why would you want to give these children gifts?’ There’s always a real positive response and almost an awe.”Most of the prisoners from Anaheim are serving time at the California Institution for Men in Chino, Odom said.Robert Palmer, chaplain at Chino, said the inmates are extremelv * ¥grateful that they get the chance to express their love of their children at Christmas, even if it is through athird party.He said the inmates have told him that the sweaters, slacks and toys that their children get are “first class.”
Newspaper Details
Anaheim Bulletin
Anaheim, California, US
Thu, Dec 03, 1992
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Kathleen E.
USA 23 Apr 2022
Other Publications Near Anaheim, California
Anaheim Register
Anaheim Hills News
Anaheim Bulletin
