For 2.7 million children in the U.S., that story may be filled with the abandonment, loneliness, and shame that come from having a mom or dad in prison. For many, it may also include following their parents down the same destructive road to incarceration. Angel Tree®, a program of Prison Fellowship, reaches out to the children of prisoners and their families with the love of Christ. This unique program gives you an opportunity to share God's love by helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the families of prisoners.
Angel Tree is a program of Prison Fellowship that connects parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts. In most cases, local church volunteers purchase and deliver gifts and the Gospel to children in the name of their prisoner-parent. (https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/)
How can you help?
Central United Methodist Church has reached out to over 60+ children each year in surrounding counties of Loudon, Lenoir City, Alcoa, Maryville, Andersonville, Rockwood, Sweetwater, and Philadelphia.
We support this opportunity by purchasing gifts for the children on behalf of the parent who is in prison. Central hosts a Christmas party for the children and their families each year where we provide a luncheon, puppet show, face painting, crafts, and cards the children can make/design/sign to send back to their parent. This is also the time the children receive a present from their parent.
Central will be providing "Angels" on the Christmas tree beginning November 12 and 19. Gifts will need to be purchased, wrapped, and back under the tree by Sunday, November 26. Our Angel Tree Christmas party will be December 2 at 11:30am in the Pavilion. Volunteers are welcome to sign up and help.
This year, we have 25 families and 62 children from our area.
