CHARITY AT WORK "A Special Story"
MICHIGAN CITY HOUSE OF HOPE – Can something as simple as a toy for Christmas help keep children on the right path in life? That's what one west side organization and a group of offenders at the Indiana State Prison hopes. "I remember many Christmases when my own kids suffered because of my addiction," Alonzo Rupert said while helping distribute toys to children on
Saturday at the Michigan Township Trustee's office. "There were no presents under the tree for them,
nothing for them to smile about…by doing this I hope to contribute to making sure that doesn't happen to other kids and help them stay in the right direction." The gift program was actually suggested by an offender at ISP, Rupert said. He was giving a presentation on rehabilitation programs for offenders at the prison when it was suggested by a member of the Northwestern Jaycees, an offender organization. Volunteer Sandra Hudson said the Jaycees then made it happen, with help from American Legion Post 130, the offender program ISO Garden, and the trustee's office, which provided the space. She credited
Deb Osos for organizing everything through the Jaycees, who also wrapped the gifts. The kids in the office Saturday were, of course, more interested in the gifts. Some then sat holding and feeling the boxes, wishing they could open them, while others used the office as a playground for hide-and-seek and other games. But all had smiles on their faces.
