Every gift matters because every child matters
Memory is a funny thing.
If you ask me for my WiFi password, I’d take a minute to find it. If you ask what I am doing next Saturday, I’d have to check my calendar. But if you ask me about my favourite Christmas gift that I received as a child many years ago, I can tell you all about it right away!
And there’s good reason for this: these are the memories that our minds value the most. The memories where someone shows us that they we are known and loved. Christmas is the time when the chill of separation is most acutely felt by the thousands of parents in prison and their children at home. But, together through Angel Tree, we can create positive memories for many of these children with a warmth that will last long into adulthood.
I want to share a story that demonstrates this beautifully. A story told by Jan—one of our amazing Angel Tree Co-ordinators—of someone who received an Angel Tree gift many years ago
‘It was my first year as an Angel Tree Co-ordinator, and I was doing some Christmas shopping. If I’m honest, I was stressed out; the whole thing was feeling a bit overwhelming, and I still had my own Christmas shopping to do! ‘When I got to the till, the cashier asked if I would like to support a local pet charity. I declined but felt the need to explain: “I am already supporting a charity this year. I have lots of Angel Tree presents to buy for children who have a parent in prison.”
‘The cashier’s reply almost knocked me off my feet.
“I got Angel Tree presents from my parent in prison. I loved those presents, and I loved the books as well.”’
How wonderful is that? All these years later, she remembered her Angel Tree presents!
Each personalised gift costs just £20, including postage and packing. Last year, 5,172 children were blessed with a gift from their parent in prison.
Please could you help us bless even more families this year? From Tuesday, 3 December—thanks to a group of generous philanthropists who will match every gift we receive until our ‘pledge pot’ is empty—your donation of £20 will buy not just one gift, but two.
At this special time of year, what a blessing it is to give a child memories that will last a lifetime—a Christmas present from their parent in prison.
You can double your gift by donating online at prisonfellowship.org.uk/x2 from midday on Tuesday 3rd December.
Each Christmas, the number of Angel Tree gifts that Jan and her team distribute continues to grow. And this year looks like it will be her biggest yet! But she is no longer feeling overwhelmed. ‘What am I fussing about?’ she smiles. ‘God’s got this.’
I want to thank you for your generous support of Prison Fellowship this year. And, as we celebrate Jesus coming into the world and showing us we are known and loved beyond our imagination, to please ask you to prayerfully consider demonstrating this to a child who needs to hear it this Christmas. A child who will not be with their mum or dad on Christmas morning.
Could you add one more gift to your Christmas shopping list? You see, it won’t just be a gift, it will be a memory that lasts a lifetime.
Every donation you make before the end of December will be doubled for free.
Every gift matters because every child matters.
