Local organization helping bring Christmas cheer to inmate families

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Many children take waking up to a gift under the Christmas tree for granted.

But when a parent is in jail that dream can be just that…a dream.

A Columbus organization is setting out to change that.

When we look at the walls of the jail and see the inmates, it’s easy to forget that some of them are also parents.

This time of year is especially hard on the children they’re separated from. But for some local trustees’ kids, Christmas is coming early.

Hard work pays off for some who are working on a second chance.

Trustees at the Lowndes County Jail spent their year helping out the Community Benefit Committee with multiple events.

Now, the committee is saying thank you.

“We wanted to get back to the trustees that came out to help us build the haunted house these guys came out and it ours and they have kids for Christmas so many times kids that fathers are incarcerated don’t get Christmas and we wanted to give them a bike from us for their labor,” said Community Benefit Committee member Rhonda Sanders. 

The Season can be less than “merry” for children who are separated from one of their parents, but this gift could help brighten Christmas morning.

“This is all about the kids. Sure, it’s a good lesson for the trustees because they’re going to learn, but they had to face consequences, but at least I got out of, and worked, and we’re blessed, and their kids are blessed for it, and they can hand that down to them, and I think some of the children who are a little bit older they’ll understand this,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Alredge. 

Committee members hope that this gift will have an impact beyond the holiday season.

“It’s part of our mission to serve this community and do and build a better quality of life what better is to sow a seed into a child that’s father that is incarcerated tried to break the cycle of them you know going to jail,” said Sanders. 

12 bikes will be given out to the inmates, and if some have children who are too young to ride a bike, they will be getting toys.

“This basically gives them hope, and I know a lot of people might say, ‘oh it’s just a bike,’ but to have a bike from your father, your biological father, and you’re not able to have that everyday relationship with the kids, let them know that they still care about them,” said Sanders. “We’re still thinking about them when we ask these trustees if they would like to give their kids we have some of them that came to tears it was wonderful it’s going to be a great thing.”

The trustees will give the bikes to their kids during visitation on Sunday.