Christmas came early in California for some of the most vulnerable, at-risk youth, thanks to FCA ministers Bob and Mona Davies, from Gem of the Valley Church in Wildomar, California. Every year for 16 years the Davies have been reaching out to children whose parent or parents are incarcerated.
This year more than 200 children were “adopted” by community volunteers recruited by the Davies for the annual Angel Tree® Christmas Party. Girls and boys, teens, preschoolers, and those between, Hispanics, whites, African Americans gathered for the uplifting event Sunday, December 11.
The Davies, who co-founded Community Outreach Ministry, work in conjunction with Prison Fellowship® to minister to prisoners as Jesus taught by helping their families. Community partners help them — local businesses, churches, clubs, and civic organizations. California Highway Patrol officers, sheriff’s cars, and firefighters also joined in the outreach. Children received gifts, climbed into fire trucks, and had their faces painted by volunteer teens. All the activities were intended to build relationships and trust.
Christmas Party December 11th in Wildomar, California.
“This partnership with the Angel Tree is especially important,” said Dave Fontneau, a retired Riverside County Sheriff’s Department captain. “We are obviously the ones doing the incarcerating and the kids see us in that light. This is one opportunity to show them we are there to help them and their families break the cycle of incarceration.”
The Angel Tree program allows incarcerated parents to sign up their children to receive Christmas gifts. The Davies work year-round to gather donations and gifts to be presented to local children of prisoners at the annual party.
Between 80 and 100 families are typically invited to the event each year. Besides the gifts and the fun, they hear the story of Christmas and enjoy a meal of spaghetti and meatballs. There also were gift bags for the children’s caregivers — mothers, fathers, grandparents, or others.
