PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG: Families of Prisoners

"I couldn’t let these kids grow up without support." Amid a pandemic, American youth raise money for the Angel Tree Christmas program.

Slam dunk legend Kenny Dobbs has made a name for himself in basketball, but his passion is helping at-risk kids get on the right track.

Zackarie didn’t want to go to camp at first, but he’s so glad he did. More than a decade later, he remembers his weeks at camp as some of the best—and most transformative—of his life.

Before she ever saw the lush beauty of an Oregon campground, Lucy had seen things no child should experience. Angel Tree Camping showed her she wasn’t alone. Her mom says, “She walked out of there a totally different person.”

Born on Rikers Island, Kevin faced an uncertain future. When Mayra adopted him, he was able to break the cycle of incarceration.

Parents play a unique and irreplaceable role in their children’s lives. So how can incarcerated parents still actively fill that role from behind bars?

A group of men inside an Oregon prison hosted a barbeque, a walkathon, and fundraising booths to raise money for Angel Tree.

Legal troubles were part of Michelle’s family legacy, so when her boss asked for her “help” with the company’s taxes, it just seemed par for the course.

In the world of COVID-19, concerns of prisoners’ families are heavy. Practicing social distance can be difficult behind bars—if not impossible. The threat of illness is high for people living and working within the prison system. Angel Tree’s Michelle Payette says, “When you can't control things, you’ve got to learn to pray.”

As our world navigates COVID-19, Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree is actively reaching out to families of prisoners to pray with them and encourage them.