“I want you to know how much I appreciate your ministry of hope for us families who have loved ones serving time. I am extremely grateful of the amount of generosity you have blessed us with — all expense paid airfare for my granddaughters and myself; and gifts unexpectedly blessed with! Not to mention the time well spent with my daughter; brought tears of joy that I will cherish for the rest of my life! … May God bless all of you who graciously put this blessed program together.” (Thank you letter to the diocese for the Star Light, Star Bright! Christmas party from a grandfather on a Neighbor Island who is caring for his three granddaughters)
The diocesan Office for Prison Ministry again is seeking donations for “Star Light, Star Bright!,” the annual Christmas party that unites incarcerated mothers and their families for a day of fun, food, games, gifts and emotional reunions.
This year’s event is Dec. 10 at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua.
The purpose of Star Light, Star Bright!, now in its 17th year, is to help mend damaged or strained relationships among incarcerated mothers, their children and caregivers.
A letter from diocesan Prison Ministry asking for donations states that “the sadness of children being separated from their mothers for several — and too often many — years is heart-wrenching.”
“The Star Light, Star Bright! Christmas program provides moms and their children a day of meaningful and emotional reconnection, especially children from our Neighbor Islands,” it said.
For neighbor islanders, the program covers airfare, lodging and meals for the weekend at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
“The success of Star Light, Star Bright! is dependent upon donations, prayers and compassion for the families, especially the children, who struggle daily with the effects of Mom’s incarceration,” the letter said.
Here is a list of donations requested:
- A gift for a child. (Gift tags and instructions will be e-mailed or mailed to you.)
- Monetary donation toward airfare for Neighbor Island children.
- Monetary donation for the Christmas party.
- Gift baskets of non-perishable food and household necessities for a family.
- $50 gift certificates from Foodland, Safeway or Zippy’s so a family can purchase a Christmas dinner.
For more instructions and information regarding children’s gifts, gift baskets or other donations, contact event coordinator Paulette Vernay at 203-6722 or pvernay@rcchawaii.org.
Make checks payable to Roman Catholic Church, memo: Star Light, Star Bright!, 6301 Pali Hwy., Kaneohe, HI 96744. Send gift certificates and to the same address.)
Online donations can be made at www.catholichawaii.org/starlight
Party organizers are also seeking volunteers to help deliver gifts and gift baskets to families who cannot come to the event.
