Changing A Child’s Life Forever
Children with a mum or dad in prison grow up wondering if their mum and dad still loves them. Through Angel Tree we can be the ones to show them they do.
That is why for the last seven years, Milton Keynes Christian Centre has partnered with Angel Tree right here in Milton Keynes. Angel Tree is an initiative lead by the charity Prison Fellowship.
For someone in prison, Christmas can be the most difficult of seasons. The separation from families can seem overwhelming, and the financial strain can be great. Angel Tree lessens the devastation experienced as a result of parental absence by not only helping families connect and build relationships, but by providing children with much-needed joy.
Each year MK Prison Fellowship volunteers visit churches across Milton Keynes, including Milton Keynes Christian Centre to give individuals the opportunity to get involved. Angel Tree visits MKCC in November setting up a Christmas Tree with little cards in the shape of Angels. Each card has been completed by a prisoner, giving suggestions of the gift their child would like to receive. Angel Tree cards are taken and returned the following week with an appropriate gift up to a value of £10.
Local Prison Fellowship volunteers then wrap and send the presents. Each gift is dispatched as though it is from the parent in prison and is accompanied by a personal message written by the parent specifically for their child to make the gift extra special.
Christmas 2018 saw Angel Tree in Milton Keynes partnering with 12 churches, sending 335 gifts providing children with much-needed joy. It took 12 volunteers nearly 5 hours to prepare and wrap the presents. This Christmas This year Milton Keynes Christian Centre will be participating again in this great project.
No child should be forgotten at Christmas!
You can find out more about the incredible work of Angel Tree here.