In December 2024, 111Project partnered with Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program, bringing hope and joy to families impacted by incarceration across Oklahoma. CarePortal, 111Project’s technology platform that alerts local churches to real-time needs of families, was utilized to notify the community of the Angel Tree needs. Through the dedication of 27 churches and 3 community donors, 30 families in 16 counties received 70 Christmas gifts, each one a symbol of love, connection, and faith during the holiday season.
Through the dedication of 27 churches and 3 champions, 30 families in 16 counties received 70 Christmas gifts
One especially heartwarming moment came when a CarePortal Responder from Life.Church Norman learned that one family spoke primarily Spanish. She responded, “Our entire family speaks Spanish (our kids attend a bilingual school), so we are all excited to connect with the family!” What began as a logistical detail became a meaningful connection, showing how small moments of understanding can build deeper relationships.
Another touching story involved a high school teacher who responded on behalf of Starting Point Seminole. She enlisted her students to help pick out Godzilla toys for a young boy. The excitement of the students reflected the joy of giving, and their involvement highlighted how Angel Tree impacts not just the receiving families but entire communities.
When this teacher met the boy’s mother, she shared that the church would be praying for her husband and older son who were both incarcerated. The mother expressed her deep gratitude, not only for the gifts but for the chance her loved ones had to send them. In a remarkable twist, the mother discovered that the teacher’s daughter-in-law was her son’s teacher! A connection that moved them both to tears. Standing together, they prayed, grateful for what they recognized as a divine appointment.
Churches from across the state stepped up to meet the needs of these families, delivering gifts on behalf of incarcerated parents and creating lasting relationships in the process. Among the participating churches were BattleCreek Church Broken Arrow, Believers Church Tulsa, Chickasha Life Church, Corinth Baptist Church, Cowboy Junction Church, Crossover Bible Church, DestinyLife Church, Faith Church, First Baptist Church of Bristow, First Baptist Church of Tulsa, First Baptist Church of Wagoner, First United Methodist Church Woodward, Heritage church, Kingston Assembly of God, Life.Church Broken Arrow, Life.Church Norman, Magnify Church, Muskogee First Assembly, NewPoint Church, Restoration Church, South Community Church, Starting Point Seminole, Sugarloaf Fellowship, Summit Church, Sunnybrook Christian Church, The Rock, Woodward Church of Christ.
Community donors are also known as “CarePortal Champions.” In this project, Champions helped provide for the requests made on behalf of the families. The CarePortal Champion program allows community organizations and individuals to answer CarePortal requests by funding or providing for hte need. Champions like Brandon Dorsey, CityServe Oklahoma, and Chris Sanders with his Motorcycle Crew played an essential role in making this effort possible.
Through Angel Tree, 111Project, its church partners, and champions brought more than gifts to these families. They brought encouragement, hope, and a reminder that they are not alone. As one participant reflected, “We are so blessed to be a small part of what God is doing.”
To learn more about how your church can get involved with 111Project and CarePortal, visit www.111project.org/pledgemychurch
To learn more about getting involved as a CarePortal Champion visit www.111Project.org/champion
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