Angel Tree program benefits parishioners and gift receivers

During the holiday season of 1992, Deb Forward didn’t have much. Her husband at the time had been court marshalled and was held in prision at Fort Knox, and she was new to Red Oak.

“I was pretty certain, if any, there wouldn’t be many presents under the tree that year,” Forward said.

It was then that Forward was contacted by the First Covenant Church in Red Oak and asked if she wanted to participate in their Angel Tree program, in which parishioners  buy presents for children on behalf of their incarcerated parent(s).

“It was a relief knowing they would have something,” she said. “I wanted to teach my kids the meaning of Christmas, but I also wanted them to have gifts. It was huge burden lifted.”

Forward’s children, then five and nine-years-old, each got a toy and new clothes, along with a personalized note from their father.

She said it was like he was there; it meant so much to the kids and their father to know he could do something for them.

The church’s Angel Tree program also provided Forward with money for clothes for herself, which she said she desperately needed.

For more than 25 years, the First Covenant Church has been doing a little extra to make Christmas special for children who can’t spend the holiday with their parents.

According to the church’s Angel Tree coordinator, Karen Dean, the incarcerated parent must sign up for the program through the Prison Fellowship, and he or she requests one clothing item and one toy for the child. Also with the present is a personalized message from the parent.

The 60-plus members of the church are given the opportunity to purchase these gifts on behalf of the incarcerated. Church volunteers will then deliver the gifts to the families.

About 20 children from seven or eight families in southwest Iowa are signed up for the program, Dean said.

“The kids are just ecstatic and so grateful,” Dean said about when the children receive the presents and notes from their parent.

While the purpose of the program is to provide children with gifts, Dean said they try to look after the caregivers of the children as well.

Dean recalled a story from this year when she was talking with a caregiver about winter coats.

“She started crying because she hadn’t had a winter coat in years because she had given them to the kids,” Dean said, adding the church was working to find her a coat as well.

The Angel Tree program is mainly done at Christmas, but Dean said they keep in contact with a couple families year round to make sure their needs are met. Sometimes they will supply them with grocery store gift cards or whatever they can to make sure basic needs are met.  

The Angel Tree program, while for the children of incarcerated and their caregivers, is just as rewarding for the volunteers.

Church member Pam Sandell has been involved with the program since it first began. When she can, she will buy presents for the children, but she said the biggest reward is delivering the gifts.

“It makes me get teary just thinking about the impact it has,” Sandell said. “It really taught me and teaches me what a blessing it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

When delivering gifts, Sandell said, if the caregivers are willing, she will sit with the children and read the Christmas story from the Bible.

“Working with this has just shown me that God always provides,” Sandell said. “I cannot imagine celebrating Christmas without Angel Tree.”