Prison ministry plans donation drive
A prison ministry is leading a donation drive for items like puzzles, sketch pads, playing cards and toiletries to give to inmates at a women' s prison in Oklahoma City.
Donna K. Thompson said the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention Prison Ministry is collecting items for inmates at Kate Barnard Correctional Center. The ministry hopes to deliver the items to the prison, 3300 N Martin L. King Ave., later this week.
Thompson, the prison ministry's director, said ministry volunteers are not being allowed into the prison to limit the spread of COVID-19.
She said the donation effort is a way ministry leaders and churches may show inmates that the faith community continues to pray and care for them.
“We want them to know that we love them and have not forgotten about them,” Thompson said.
Jessica Brown, Oklahoma Department of Corrections' chief of strategic communications, said Kate Barnard inmates have been secured in place and the prison remains closed to visitors. She said the prison currently houses 219 inmates.
“We are doing our best to limit exposure from those on the outside to inmates inside,” Brown said.
The Rev. John A. Reed, senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, said his church is participating in the effort.
“At this particular time with what is transpiring in our city and our state, the coronavirus crisis is affecting people who are incarcerated ,” he said. “Sometimes, they are forgotten because of mistakes that they made but the
faith community, we are supportive.”
Sheila Jackson, a former inmate who attends Greater Bethel Baptist Church, is also part of the project.
Jackson, who completed her prison sentence in 2001, said she wants to give back and didn't hesitate to donate bars of soap and cards of encouragement
through her church' s Transformation Ministry. Her church's ministry is also donating shampoo, hand lotion and other items.
“I think this project is wonderful. I can relate to what these people are going through,” Jackson said. “Even though it seems like no one loves them, we do love them.”
Suggested donations include: shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, toothpaste, lotion, bar soap, body wash, deodorant, cards, dominoes, adult coloring books, crayons, sketch pads, puzzles, activity books, crossword puzzle and word find books, and craft items. Perfumes will not be accepted.
Thompson said cash donations are also being accepted because ministry leaders will purchase more items with the monetary donations.