A recent article in the Charlotte Observer profiles Mary Fraley, an Angel Tree church coordinator who doesn't just distribute gifts. Her ministry has grown to include year-round support of Angel Tree families and regular correspondence with 74 different inmates.

Fraley said the people she encounters and the letters she receives from the prisoners provide her just as much encouragement as she tries to give.

One inmate wrote to her:

"Thank you with all my heart for the presents you got for my kids, it means so much to me for someone who cares enough for my kids in whom you don't even know. Again, thank you with all my heart and may God Bless you."

Fraley corresponds with 74 prisoners throughout the year. But everything she does originated from wanting to help these kids.

"It's all about the kids," Fraley said. "Yesterday when I went to the home of four children in need, the 5-year-old girl asked me if I was an angel. I responded, 'No', but God does send angels to make sure that they will get their gifts because their parents love and miss them and want to be with them. I tell them about God's amazing love for each of us and while the gifts are great, the greatest gift is the gift of Jesus Christ."

Laura Kaeppeler, a stunning, 23-year-old brunette from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was like most of the other contestants on stage at the 2012 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas last weekend. She performed opera in the talent competition, she flashed a megawatt smile in her beaded black evening gown, and she politely demurred when asked about her political views. 

But in one respect, she was nothing like the other contestants. Her platform didn't emphasize education or world hunger. Instead, she took the opportunity to advocate for the children of incarcerated parents, just like she had been.

Laura's father, Jeff, served 18 months in a federal prison camp just as she was starting her freshman year in college. She chose to use the pain of her family's experience to highlight the plight of prisoners' children, and she has started her own nonprofit - Circles of Support - to give hope to prisoners' families. On the Circles of Support web site she writes: 

Dear Children of Incarcerated Parents, 

I know how you feel. When I was 14, an immediate family member committed a white collar crime and when I was 17 was sentenced to one year in federal prison. I was angry, sad and confused. It was not easy but I never gave up hope for a better day, and more importantly, a better life.

I always believed in myself and tried to surround myself with positive people who encouraged me. Promise me one thing - you will always surround yourself with positive role models and never lose faith in yourself. This situation does not define you. Dream BIG - you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I believe in you and I believe in the power of your future!

Love, 
Laura

 The web site also links prisoners' families to helpful organizations, including Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program.

With the $50,000 scholarship from the competition, Laura plans to attend law school and become a family attorney specializing in helping the children of incarcerated parents.

I want to personally thank the volunteers and donors that participated in our 2011 Angel Tree Christmas program.  Because of you, almost 400,000 prisoners’ children received a gift from their incarcerated parent and great hope through the Gospel.

That’s almost 400,000 children who feel closer to their absent mom or dad, closer to a local church, and closer to Jesus Christ!

Akeylah is one of the many precious angels whose Christmas was brightened by your generosity. At nine years old, she’s the youngest in her family of five. So she doesn’t remember any special moments with her dad before he went to prison.

But when friends like you invited her to an Angel Tree^® Christmas party at a nearby church, Akeylah treasured that moment because she felt important to the father she’s only known as a prisoner.

“I got lots of presents from my dad, and it’s lots of fun!” she said.

“I don’t know how to describe it. I was really happy that I got something from him, and know that he’s ok,” she said. “I have a great time with my family.”

Akeylah is now learning to follow her Savior. “It’s important to never give up on [God],” she said. “Don’t doubt about anything. And read the Bible, go to church, and tell people how to become a Christian.”

Akeylah is one of countless children whose lives have been touched by your efforts. This new year, please keep these families in your prayers as they seek to renew their lives through the power of Jesus Christ.

You shared the true meaning of Christmas with so many who have never experienced the love of our Savior. So from the bottom of my heart to yours, thank you for serving the littlest victims of crime with your joyful and generous spirit!

On her blog, author Ellen Painter Dollar talks about her family's involvement in the Angel Tree program at their church, and how it has helped to shape her kids' view of Christmas - and her view, as well:

My children talk and talk about how the kids will love their gifts. They also ask why a mom or dad would be in prison, and who takes care of the kids while they are. I'd like to think that, besides learning that other kids don't have as much as they do and that it feels good to help someone, my children are also learning that prisoners are not nameless "bad guys," but whole people who love their children. If it were up to me, I might skip the Angel Tree giving. I could be confident that no child would be left ungifted, because there is plenty of interest in the Angel Tree within my church. And it's one more thing on my long to-do list. But for my kids, it's an indispensable ritual of Advent.

The author says that she has considered forgoing Christmas gifts in an attempt to get back to the "real meaning" of Christmas, but realizes that such a move might not go over very well with her kids. She also concdes that such a move would be more about her attempting to mold her kids into what she thinks they should be, rather than allowing them to develop an attitude that values giving over receiving. "[I]f we're working throughout the year on teaching and modeling compassion, mindful consumption, and thoughtful gift-giving," she says, "then I am confident that our children can lead us toward ways of giving instead of only receiving."

Selflessness is a rare commodity these days - particularly as we approach a holiday that too often emphasizes materialism and personal consumption.  We would be wise to remember that on that first Christmas day, God emptied himself, taking the very form of a man (and a helpless infant at that), giving us a gift that we were unable to obtain ourselves, and unworthy to receive.  May we always be mindful of grace and mercy to us, and may we never tire of following his example - offering that same gift of grace and mercy to a dying world.

Joe Avila, Prison Fellowship's executive director for northern California, recently received the following lettter from Betsy Gewirz's third-grade class at St. John's Lutheran School in Napa, California:

Please accept our third-graders' donation to Angel Tree Camping.  Our school held a jog-a-thon in the fall, and a portion of the funds raised by the third-graders was to go to a charity of their choice.  In addition, Thrivent Financial matched our funds up to $300.  The students were very excited that they were able to help other children do a fun activity.  We would like to receive any materials regarding Angel Tree Camping that you are able to send us.  God bless you and your ministries!

What a great example of God's mercy and compassion!  These kids have chosen to serve their peers, and as a result, other children will receive an opportunity to see and hear about the love of Jesus at camp.

Of course, you don't need to hold a jog-a-thon to contibute to the work of Angel Tree (although you are definitely encouraged to do that should you so desire).  Contributions made on the Angel Tree website will support all facets of the Angel Tree program - from providing gifts for children of inmates for Christmas, to providing mentoring programs, or giving these kids an opportunity to attend camp in the summer.  And there is still time to give to this year's Christmas drive to make sure that every kid who has been registered receives a Christmas gift and the Good News of Christ's coming.