Prison Fellowship seeks to give kids a better Christmas

The newly launched Prison Fellowship St. Vincent and the Grenadines will engage in its first project here, where it will seek to provide Christmas joy to the children of incarcerated parents.{{more}}

Dubbed the Angel Tree Project, the Fellowship hopes to donate to as many of these children as possible toys, clothing, funds and food for the Christmas season and beyond.

Costian Cupid, Executive Director of the local fellowship, said that he is looking for the support of the local corporate society to assist in making the season more cheerful for these children, who will be without at least one of their parents.

“We have already started to have some forms filled out so we could know who we are going to get items for.”

“We are appealing to members of the public and business places to help us to make this a success because without them it would be impossible, so we are seeking as much help as we can get.”

Cupid was accompanied by Pastor Thomas Watts and Julian Baptiste, Executive Director and committee member of Prison Fellowship Barbados, respectively, which has been conducting a similar project in that country.

Watts indicated that his organization has gone as far as accumulating similar donations for Vincentian children, whose parents are in prison in Barbados.

According to Watts, they collected items for 16 children on behalf of eight Vincentian inmates currently incarcerated at Dodds Prison, St. Philip, Barbados.

“We try to concentrate on getting food for them because it goes a long way. With the toys, they can have it brand new for one minute, but after a while it can be broken; but food and clothes can last for some time.”

Watts also commended Cupid for the work that he has been doing to bring the internationally recognized organization to St. Vincent.

The men urged Vincentians to support the committee, which in turn will be in support of the children, victims and prisoners themselves.

“The support helps to bring together the people; never mind that the guys are in prison. If everybody reaches out to help raise this programme, not only this year but in the years to come, this could make more people stay out of prison, Baptiste stated.

Prison Fellowship St. Vincent and the Grenadines officially launched last Sunday, November 28, at the Chebar Evangelical Assembly at Rose Place.

Members of the Antigua prison Fellowship also visited in support of the local organization.

Persons wishing to donate to the Angel Tree Project can contact Cupid at 1784 497 9001 or tianqp@hotmail.com.