Host an Angel Tree This Christmas
News
A very small percentage of Missouri’s almost 800 Methodist congregations have a prison ministry; In 2015, 16 of these churches participate in a program called Angel Tree.
A program of national organization Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree offers congregants the opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated. Volunteers deliver the gifts on behalf of the parents in prison.
The program works like most other Christmas gift programs: Incarcerated parents sign their children up to receive an Angel Tree gift. The Angel Tree coordinator receives these names and gift suggestions in the fall. Around Christmas-time, participating churches display the names and congregants selected children to buy gifts for. The expected spending amount is only $15-25 per child.
Yet, in 2015 some children in Missouri went without gifts because the parent requests were greater than the amount of churches willing to be a part of Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program.
Would you consider hosting an Angel Tree at your church this Christmas? The time to start planning is now.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Sami Weakley at (816) 352-3266 or via email at sami_weakley@pfm.org.