Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model™
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

Prisoners Give Back: Oregon Men Make a Difference for Children

August 12, 2020 by Grayson Pope

Incarcerated Men Raise Thousands Through Fundraiser

an incarcerated father hugs his son

For more than 10 years, men at the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI) have held an annual fundraiser to make sure kids have a merry Christmas. Last summer they raised money for Angel Tree®, a Prison Fellowship® program that helps ensure that children of incarcerated parents receive a special Christmas gift and personalized note from their parent.

The men at OSCI, a medium-security, 900-person facility in Salem, Oregon, "get really excited because of what Angel Tree is," says George Escalante, recreation specialist at OSCI. "Some of their kids actually benefit from it."

'I CAN DO SOMETHING GOOD'

On Aug. 16, 2019, a group of men at OSCI hosted a barbeque, a walkathon, and fundraising booths. Wonderful smells filled the air at OSCI's large yard. The barbeque featured cheeseburgers, barbecue chicken, hot dogs, and more. There were events and games set up all around the yard.

Hundreds of people participated in the walkathon, each earning one penny per lap. After three and a half hours and hundreds of laps, walkers had earned hundreds of dollars, including donations from prisoner clubs. The event raised more than $4,000—a new record for the fundraiser!

The money they raised went to Angel Tree, which last year helped more than 300,000 kids with an incarcerated parent received a Christmas gift, the Gospel message, and a special note from their parent. Since its beginning, Angel Tree has helped deliver more than 11 million such gifts to children.

"When you do something to help others, it's giving back to the community, and it's a really, really positive thing," said George. "It's a great message, a great cause. The result is priceless at all levels. It's helping guys realize, ‘'I can do something good.'"

MINISTERING TO PRISONERS' FAMILIES

A former prisoner founded Angel Tree in 1982 after witnessing firsthand the deep need for connection between prisoners and their children. Today, Angel Tree is the largest national program in serving some of the 2.7 million children of prisoners. Prison Fellowship mobilizes local churches and community organizations to fuel the program. In addition, many partner churches meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both children and families through year-round ministry such as camping and sports clinics.

Supporting the connection between children and their incarcerated parents is especially important in times like these. Many prisons have canceled in-prison visitation due to COVID-19 concerns—even for families. It remains uncertain when the current public health measures will end, but Angel Tree Christmas will continue. Our team is preparing for our traditional delivery—and preparing online options—as we work to ensure that every Angel Tree child is served.

Help share the love of Christ with prisoners' children and their families. Donate to Angel Tree today.

GIVE NOW

BIBLES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

Prisons across the country are on lockdown due to COVID-19, and Bibles are one of the only ways to still get hope behind prison bars. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Please give generously today and your gift will be doubled thanks to a matching grant!

DONATE NOW

DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE?

Make sure you don' t miss out on any of our helpful articles and incredible transformation stories! Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, and you' ll get great content delivered directly to your inbox.

Your privacy is safe with us. We will never sell, trade, or share your personal information.

Filed Under: Angel Tree, Families of Prisoners, Prison & Prisoners, Prison Fellowship News & Updates Tagged With: Oregon

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

Prison Fellowship’s Statement on the Federal Prison Oversight Act

June 21, 2023

Prison Fellowship’s Statement on President Biden’s Announcement of Second Chance Month Initiatives

May 1, 2023

‘The Chosen’ Soon Available to Tens of Thousands of Incarcerated by Floodlight Streaming Service

May 1, 2023

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree Program
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports ClinicTM, Angel Tree Sports CampsTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.