CrossReach is the social work arm of the Church of Scotland. Among the services they offer is a visitors’ support and advice service at Perth Prison and a visitors’ centre family hub at Polmont Prison. These services offer safe and welcoming places for families to relax before and after a prison visit. For children there are toys to play with and books to read, and free refreshments.
Keeping families in touch with prisoners is a “golden thread” which helps to minimise re-offending. Many of the children of prisoners have very little and, when it comes to Christmas, they can feel very left out. The CrossReach prison visitor service aims to provide a gift at Christmas to each of the children with whom it comes into contact. It can only do this through the generosity of donations. It is hoped that the congregation of Houston & Killellan Kirk will generously support it again this Christmas.
The request is to put NEW unwrapped gifts in open gift bags, with an indication of age, and boy or girl.
This year the plan is to have the gifts collected at the West Halls (Rear Fire Exit Door facing the Manse), Main Street, Houston, with no social contact, at the same time as the Foodbank donations continue to be received on 1st & 8th December, 10 am – 12 noon & 7 – 8 pm
The following are what it is suggested most families would appreciate:
Boys & Girls ages 3 – 5
- Clothing
- Craft Kits
- Colouring/Sticker Books
- Pen/Pencil Sets
- Disney & Action Hero Figures
- Trucks/Cars
- Dolls
- Play Doh
- Jigsaws
- Christmas Annuals/Books
Boys & Girls ages 6 – 9
- Clothing
- Jewellery Sets
- Board Games
- Craft Kits
- Pencil cases
- Pen/Pencil Sets
- Small Lego Sets
- Christmas Annuals/Books
- Selection Boxes
Boys & Girls ages 10+
- Clothing
- Craft/Building Kits
- Sand Clay Modelling Sets
- Board Games
- Mechanical Lego/Brick Headz
- Gadget Puzzles
- Christmas Annuals/Books
- Teen & Young People Annuals
- Boxed Pens
- Selection Boxes
Please don’t donate anything too heavy or bulky, since most families travel by public transport.
