One of the pleasures of grandparenthood is giving small gifts (and sometimes bigger ones) to the grandchildren, and many young parents appreciate the help these grandparents provide with expenses now and then. LaReshia Weaver and her father always had a close relationship, and as a single parent, she was grateful for the support he offered.
“He bought Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and things like that. He took care of us,” Weaver said.
That support ended when George Weaver was incarcerated. Worse than the support, his grandchildren—today aged 15, 13, and 9—are missing out on having him involved in their lives. “It was a struggle when he went back to prison [in 2010] because my children were so young,” LaReshia said. She maintains contact with her father as he remains incarcerated, because despite any heartbreak and disappointment, the love between father and daughter continues.
A program called Angel Tree has helped the family maintain ties since 2012. George found out about the program through Prison Fellowship, an organization that works with inmates, families of inmates, and corrections systems. Through Angel Tree, he’s able to provide Christmas gifts to his grandchildren along with a personal note.
“It helps keep things going and gives us something to look forward to,” LaReshia said, adding that program volunteers were able to send her father a video of the children opening gifts last year. “It definitely bridges the gap with the children and their grandfather. It keeps them connected to a grandfather they really don’t know…I’m so glad that this program exists.”
“We care for prisoners’ families, through Angel Tree, with the hope that it strengthens the bond between children and parents,” said Elizabeth Stanosheck, area director for Prison Fellowship.
The primary program of the national organization is a one-year academy that provides life-skills training and self-reflection along with spiritual guidance. The organization also advocates for justice reform.
“Prison Fellowship works to restore the criminal justice system within the United States, and those it affects as well. Prison Fellowship works with inmates, it works with correctional systems, it works with victims of crime. We help men and women break the cycle of brokenness that lands them in prison in the first place,” she said, adding that Angel Tree is one of many Prison Fellowship programs “interwoven together.”
As its name suggests, Prison Fellowship is a faith-based organization.
“But anyone within the prison system, whether they’re Christian or not, can participate and can benefit from the programs that Prison Fellowship brings in,” Stanosheck said. “As far as working with inmates, they do not have to be a Christian. They don’t have to be any faith at all. But if they are interested in our programming, we certainly will welcome them in.”
The Angel Tree Christmas program is a hallmark of Prison Fellowship, she said. Volunteers work through prison chaplains or religious coordinators to bring participants into the program. Children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of incarcerated individuals are eligible for the program if they are under 18 and there is no court order in place barring the inmate’s communication with the family. Caregivers must consent to the children’s participation. There are about 2,300 Angel Tree gift recipients in Nebraska, the majority of them in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.
“We partner with local churches and community organizations to provide a Christmas gift on behalf of the incarcerated person with a message from them so the child knows who that gift is coming from,” Stanosheck said. “It gives incarcerated parents a pathway to hopefully strengthen, and...to some degree, restore their relationship with their children and their family or whoever the custodial caregiver is.”
Groups of volunteers purchase gifts valued at approximately $20 to $25 for Angel Tree recipients, Stanosheck said. Volunteers work year-round to recruit gift-givers to ensure as many Angel Tree families as possible can be supported. Organizers strive to match families with groups in or near their community, hoping to create opportunity to extend the relationship to families who may benefit from a warm welcome. Sometimes the church or organization will host an Angel Tree party, Stanosheck said, where families can have some fun and enjoy refreshments while gifts are distributed.
Presents are nice, of course, but children also are receiving the message that the incarcerated family member cares, as attested by adults who were Angel Tree recipients as children, Stanosheck added. Stanosheck works with prison employees, usually the religious coordinators, to procure the handwritten notes for recipients. “We do know that a child does better emotionally, physically, and academically if they know their parent still loves them.”
The incarcerated person and their family benefits, too, she added. Most in the program will be released at some point, and stabilizing factors that help reduce recidivism include not only employment opportunities and housing, but also family support.
Church groups and community organizations interested in the Angel Tree Christmas program can apply on the organization’s website. Other Prison Fellowship volunteer and support opportunities are also listed on the website.
Weaver said her family’s experience with Angel Tree has been so positive that she wishes to eventually be in the position to give back.
“We are so appreciative,” she said. “I hope to be able to help other families someday.”
Visit prisonfellowship.org for more information.
This article first appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Omaha Magazine. Click here to subscribe to the print edition.
