“Star Light, Star Bright,” the Christmas party hosted by the diocese to reunite women prison inmates with their families, is scheduled for Dec. 14 at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua.
This year marks the fourth time that the Star Light, Star Bright event will be held on the prison grounds. Volunteers from diocesan prison ministry and local parishes will turn the correctional facility’s grassy recreational field into a place of holiday cheer with food, games, karaoke and a friendly visit from Santa.
In 2012, children and their caregivers from the neighbor islands were invited to participate in the Star Light, Star Bright festivities for the first time. The program will once again help inmates’ families travel from the neighbor islands to Oahu, covering the cost of airfare, meals and lodging at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
“For many, a trip to another island is an extreme luxury which cannot be squeezed from a tight budget,” wrote Deacon Walter Yoshimitsu, diocesan prison ministry director, in a Nov. 1 letter to parishioners.
“The guiding principle is that children have to experience their mother’s love through touch, tears, laughter, smiles and sweet murmuring,” the letter said. “The weekend of a few hours must be savored for a full year.”
According to Paulette Vernay of the prison ministry office, 71 children, 51 caregivers and 46 inmate moms are expected to attended the Dec. 14 Star Light, Star Bright party.
Donations are needed to support the weekend’s activities. The prison ministry is looking for sponsors to purchase children’s gifts, as well as monetary contributions to defer airline fees and party expenses.
Star Light, Star Bright also provides “care baskets” with non-perishable food and household items for families unable to make it to the Christmas party. Volunteers are needed for basket delivery on Oahu, Dec. 15.
In addition, the program is accepting gift certificates from Foodland, Safeway or Zippy’s to help families buy Christmas dinner.
For more information on Star Light, Star Bright — and other ways you can help — call Vernay at 203-6722 or email her at pvernay@rcchawaii.org.
