Church helps families affected by incarceration

Children with parents in jail may struggle a little more during the holiday season.

One local church is trying to help.

The Living Word Church of God is hosting a Prison Fellowship Angel Tree party at 6 p.m. today. The program provides gifts and a holiday celebration for Clovis children whose parents are incarcerated.

Staff photo: Aubry Buzek

Vivian Lake and other volunteers at The Living Word Church of God wrapped presents for more than 100 children with incarcerated parents Thursday. The volunteers purchased presents for the Clovis children, but the gifts are presented as if their parents bought them.

Program Coordinator Bonetta Hudson said although members of the church purchased and wrapped the gifts for the children, as far as the children are aware their parents provided them.

The church started with 30 families with 51 children living in Clovis. When word spread through the church, one volunteer took the idea to his workplace. Another church in Albuquerque also got on board and it quickly snowballed into 100 local children.

“It’s a little something that we can do to help,” Hudson said. “It’s nice to say, ‘This is what your dad/mom wanted to give you.”

Parents sign their children up for the program and describe the age and tastes of each child. When the volunteers receive the Angel Tag, they do their best to fulfill that wish.

“This is just so that child knows that their parent is thinking about them,” Hudson said. “The parent can’t go down to Wal-Mart and buy presents while they are incarcerated. This kind of makes it special.”

When the children get to the party, “Santa” and “Mrs. Claus” will visit with each child and have the church “elves” retrieve their gift. For the children that cannot come to the party, volunteers will personally deliver presents to their homes. Hudson said when the children walk in “…it’s like Christmas morning.”

“The best time we had last year was passing out the gifts,” Hudson said. “The kids just get so excited. We had one little kid last year that was just fascinated with Santa Claus; he just could not keep his eyes off him. That’s the best part.”

“They are probably not expecting anything,’ said volunteer Maxine Hinderliter. “It’s not the kid’s fault. Every kid deserves to have a good Christmas.”

Hudson said volunteers came up with the idea to host the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree because she and another member of the church have a personal connection to the program.

“… It impacted my kids,” Hudson said. “My kids are in their 30s now and they still remember the gifts that they got the two years I was incarcerated. It has a long-lasting effect.”