Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesMorning Star Baptist Church Pastor Morgan, members of the Angel Tree committee and other church members gather gifts for 25 children of incarcerated parents in Lowndes County.

VALDOSTA — The reconnection between incarcerated parents and their children took place Friday at Morning Star Baptist Church.

Twenty-five children in the Lowndes County area received Christmas gifts from their parents who are currently incarcerated in state penitentiaries thanks to the national Angel Tree program.

Through the program, incarcerated parents are selected by state prisons to send letters and gift requests to churches, said Alice Williams, co-chairperson for Angel Tree Committee.

All of the letters and requests are entered into a system that church volunteers utilize to purchase the gifts before extending them to the prisoners’ children, Williams said.

“What we try to do is we try to stand in the gap for parents who are incarcerated to make sure that the children have gifts for Christmas,” said William Morgan, pastor, “and there is an old adage that a village raises a child, and that is especially true during Christmas time.” 

Morgan said this is the third year Morning Star has “fully embraced” the program, and added it not only models support to the children but to the parents.

“We are hoping that this will let the incarcerated parents realize that they do have a community that loves them, a community that awaits their return back to us,” he said, “and Morning Star and other churches, we have our arms open for their return, and we will assist in ways once they get out.”

Williams, co-chairperson for Angel Tree Committee, said she believes the program sends a message of support and care.

“I think it impacts them emotionally, socially and spiritually because they know that someone outside of the prison ministry is looking after them, and they care about them,” she said.

Morgan would like to assist other churches in getting involved with the outreach effort.

“I’d just like to encourage other churches who may be interested in helping children in 2018 whose parents are incarcerated and giving gifts,” he said.

Contact Williams by phone (229) 247-8881 to learn how a church can participate, or visit prisonfellowship.org to learn more about Angel Tree. 

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.