THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 17, 1994 TAG: 9412170197
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
A Tyrrell County father has been in prison for almost a year. He misses his three young children, thinks of them often, and wants them to know he still cares. Behind bars, he can't purchase Christmas presents for them.
But by filling out a one-page form, he makes sure that his kids will get Christmas gifts - thanks to Prison Fellowship volunteers.
``We took presents to those children's mother and she seemed so excited,'' Outer Banks volunteer Marcia Danchise said Friday. ``She was taking care of those three little kids and their sick grandmother by herself.
Danchise recalled that the woman asked the volunteers, ``Could we say the gifts are from the family - instead of just their father? You see, this is the only Christmas we're going to get this year.''
``They were just too proud to ask any agency - or anyone - for help,'' Danchise said. ``It made my holiday. It made me cry.''
Although local churches and civic groups sometimes remember prisoners during holiday seasons, people often forget about the inmates' families.
In 1982, a volunteer with the national Prison Fellowship group started ``Angel Tree.'' The idea and name have since grown to include Salvation Army, women's club and other Christmas giving programs. But the title originated with - and is registered to - Prison Fellowship.
``This is the 12th year we have done the Angel Tree. Last year, we served more than 420,000 children nationwide. In North Carolina, upwards of 14,000 kids received gifts,'' Prison Fellowship Area Manager Jim Southern of Manteo said.
``In the eastern part of the state alone, we'll give gifts to about 3,000 kids this Christmas.
``We'll mail another 700 packages to people we can't visit personally. We've got gifts this year for children from nine months to age 16. In northeastern North Carolina alone, we still have about 300 families left that we need to adopt out before Christmas.''
Organized by Christian churches and community outreach groups, Angel Tree efforts begin in October. Volunteers distribute forms to state, federal and military prisons.
Any inmate who has a child or step-child can fill out a form listing the child's name, age, and primary care-giver.
Then, volunteers call the care-giver - usually the child's mother or grandmother - and ask for two gift ideas.
Each child gets one present they need, usually clothes or a coat, and one they really want, such as a toy. Even if the inmate is in Pennsylvania and his children live on the Outer Banks, volunteers will match the request.
Children get their gifts about a week before Christmas.
``The program is not based on need. The prisoners don't even have to be Christians,'' Southern said. ``The idea is that the gift is from the parent in prison, to let the children know that parent still cares. We'll do gifts for all the kids in each family.''
``It communicates to the inmates that people care for them - and for their children. It eases some of the frustration the inmates feel about not being able to provide. It lets inmates reach out to their families at a very special time of year,'' said Southern.
``Children shouldn't have to suffer just because their parents are in prison.
``The Angel Tree allows us to help by giving these kids the same opportunities - and attention - as anyone else.''
In Dare County, five families and nine children of inmates will receive presents from Prison Fellowship workers this week.
Members of the Mt. Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo, Manteo Baptist Church and Mt. Carmel Methodist Church in Manns Harbor and other community residents are participating. Youngsters in Tyrrell, Bertie, Perquimans, Hyde, Beaufort and other Albemarle-area counties also will receive presents.
A 32-year-old Roanoke Island resident who recently married, Danchise doesn't have children of her own. This week, however, she and her husband went shopping for nine North Carolina youngsters. The couple chose and wrapped the presents - and plan to deliver them personally on Sunday.
The gift cards will bear inmates' names.
``There's one 11-year-old girl whose dad has been in prison four years now. She lives with her mother and grandmother,'' Danchise said. ``She asked for a doll and a Bible this year.
``Another little 9-year-old boy also has a father in prison. When his mom couldn't pay the rent, their landlord locked up the house with all their possessions inside - including his Super Soaker water gun. The boy said he really WANTED some socks for Christmas this year. But he NEEDED a new water gun.
``So he's going to get both, from his dad, who's in jail.'' ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON
Staff
Marcia Sawyer of Manteo checks her Christmas list from the ``Angel
Tree'' program. She was shopping for presents for inmates' children
in Kill Devil Hills on Wednesday.
by CNB