Holiday kindness for men in Concord prisons

For more than 30 years, Concord Prison Outreach has helped hundreds of area residents prepare holiday gifts for the 1700 men incarcerated in Concord’s two state prisons. The Holiday Gift Bag Project has become a part of celebrating the holidays for many area families and faith groups.

The project provides men at Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Concord and the Northeastern Correctional Center with a ribbon-tied plastic bag containing gifts such as toiletries and socks. This act of kindness has an impact on the lives of the men beyond the value of the items themselves. The simple gifts, accompanied by a handmade card with a personal message, let men know they have not been forgotten. For some men, it will be the only gifts they receive.

Each year CPO receives many thank-you letters. Last year’s letters included the following messages: “Prison is a most unforgiving world and to have kind light shed upon me was blissful.” “Thank you for the lovely gift – especially the homemade Holiday card. It’s beautiful! Some thoughtful little artist took time to create a wonderful card and I love it.”

Each gift bag will contain the following items as approved by the Department of Correction:

One bar of deodorant soap, 4-5 oz.; one tube toothpaste, 5.8 - 6 oz.; one pad of white paper 6 x 9 inches or 5 x 8 inches, 100 pages, no wire; one box white envelopes No. 6 3/4 6 ½ inches x 3 ⅝ inches; one pair white crew socks preferably 5 inches of ribbing or less. No tube socks, knee highs or tennis socks; bottle shampoo, 12-15 oz; one stick deodorant 2.5 oz. or larger. No roll-ons, no gels; a handmade, non-religious holiday card with an uplifting, personal message. See website for specifics of the cards.

Every year CPO receives items other than those approved by DOC, which cannot be included in the bags. Such unusable items are distributed to various shelters and other organizations where they can be used.

CPO welcomes donations of the above items in any quantity. They do not have to be in sets. All donations are sorted, and volunteers assemble each gift bag. Cash donations are also appreciated. A tax-deductible check may be made out to Concord Prison Outreach, Inc., earmarked “Holiday Gifts” and mailed to P.O. Box 383, Concord, MA 01742.

Drop-off dates for the gift items are Dec. 1-8 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm St., Concord.

Individuals, families, faith groups and other organizations are encouraged to participate. Adult volunteers are needed to sort the items and prepare the gift bags at Trinity Episcopal Church weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 1-11.

In addition, two evening sessions will be held 7-9 p.m. Dec. 2. For the two evening sessions, CPO requests volunteers sign up in advance, by calling or emailing: Carol Miller at 978-369-3755 or carolhmiller@comcast.net; Nancy Smith at 781-894-5526 or nancesmith@aol.com

To learn more about the Holiday Gift Bag Project and other CPO volunteer programs: concordprisonoutreach.org.