PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG:

Angel Tree volunteer Nedra has 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren—but there’s always enough love for more.

Peyton struggled to speak to her dad after went to prison. But the night she returned from camp, she surprised him with a phone call he will never forget.

Seventy percent of prisoners’ children have caregivers who are over the age of 50. Many of these caregivers are grandparents. This Grandparents Day, we want to honor those family members who care for youth while their moms and dads are away.

At camp, Joseph can set his worries aside and be free to just be a kid. Every day at camp is a new adventure for this child and so many other campers. And after this summer, he will have plenty to share in his next letter to his dad in prison.

What’s the Prison Fellowship Academy all about? Part 1 of this new blog series highlights integrity, one of the six core values of the Academy. The Academy allows participants to embrace a Gospel-centered worldview and take ownership of their transformation—even in prison, where positive change might otherwise seem impossible.

After Shay’s first year at camp, she couldn’t wait to tell her mom the stories of fun and fellowship. The best part wasn’t horseback riding or laser tag—it was meeting people who shared her challenges and reminded her she wasn’t alone.

Prison Fellowship’s Emily Andrews accompanied her church’s Angel Tree team to deliver gifts around Northern Virginia. This story captures the memory of what they gave—and what they unexpectedly received—on their journey to offer joy on strangers’ doorsteps.

Vaughan was in junior high when he discovered a family secret that would change his life. Vaughan faced an uncertain future, but Angel Tree Camping stepped in on time. He experienced God’s love in the great outdoors—and found a path to a bright, hopeful future.

Ruby Payne couldn’t have expected what happened two days before last December’s Angel Tree® event. But together, they rose above the challenges to share hope and grace.

Right now, thousands of youth across America are packing their bags for childhood’s most basic rite of summer—a week away at camp. What is Angel Tree Camping®, and how is it helping at-risk children embrace hope-filled futures?