Andy Drozdziak
Prison charity Pact is calling on Catholics to support the 90,000 children in England and Wales who will spend Christmas Eve alone because their parents are in prison.
Pact’s Operation Elf Christmas scheme enables parents in prison to give a gift to their child, or children, at Christmas through a £15 gift card.
Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) is the national Catholic charity providing support to prisoners’ and their families. The charity seeks to minimise the harm caused by imprisonment, including support for children with a parent in prison.
“The simplest way to support Operation Elf is to donate a gift card(s) to the value of £15. Send it to us at Pact by 30th November and we will make sure a mum or dad in prison can give it as a gift to their child. You can pledge your support on our website, and even include your own message,” Pact’s Theresa Alessandro told the Universe.
Theresa explained that parishes are contributing to the scheme.
“This year, a number of parishes have responded to our invitation to work more closely with Pact Services in their local prison by forming an Operation Elf partnership,” she said.
“Each partnership looks a little different: parishioners are providing things such as gifts, gift cards, and festive treats. Representatives from the parish may also visit the prison to share in the fun at a Pact Family Visit Day and see first-hand how Operation Elf makes a difference to children and families.”
Theresa added some concrete examples of how the parishes are working.
“The Catholic parishes of Borehamwood are working with a Pact Family Services team to provide gifts for dads in HMP Pentonville to give to their children. St John Fisher in North Harrow are working with us to provide gifts at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. In Clifton diocese, the parish of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Devizes is working with Pact staff at HMP Erlestoke,” she said.
Theresa explained that one mother, who had been unable to give her son anything since entering prison three years ago, used the scheme and became very emotional as she said: ‘It makes me feel like a mum again’. Pact is inviting Universe readers to play their part in the scheme.
Marie Norbury, Pact’s Faith in Action Volunteering Manager, has visited several Catholic schools who are supporting Operation Elf this year, including St. Francis Primary School, Caterham and St. Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School in Bexleyheath.
“The young people I have met so far really ‘get it’,” Marie said.
“They have responded warmly to the need and generated their own ideas to raise the funds needed to buy gift cards. I am so moved by their enthusiasm and compassion.”
For more information, visit: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/operation-elf
Contact Theresa and Marie for an Operation Elf parish pack: parish.action@prisonadvice.org.uk
£15 gift cards can be sent to: Pact, 29 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UA to arrive by 30th November.
Photo: Andy Aitchison