North Dakota prisoners make, donate crafts
Ten prisoners at the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown, N.D., have created handmade crafts that The Salvation Army is distributing as Christmas presents to local families in need in nearby Valley City.
The crafts include beaded necklaces, leather wallets, crocheted stocking caps, and much more. The men used their own money to buy the materials needed to make the items.
“This is one way the men can show the world that they are caring people, even though they have made some terrible choices in life,” said volunteer Lee Isensee, who leads a small Salvation Army service unit based in Valley City. “These men make about $2.50 a day, so it’s very special that they’ve spent what little money they have on someone else.”
Isensee (pictured) visits James River prisoners about once a week to offer encouragement and spiritual support on behalf of The Salvation Army.
The 10 prisoners have appreciated the opportunity to make and donate the crafts.
“This is a great reward,” said one of the men, 43, whose crafts included hats and purses he crocheted himself. “It makes me feel normal knowing that even though I’m sitting in here, I’m doing a good deed for someone in need.”
The program started last year with one prisoner, a 29-year-old man who is serving a 15-year sentence. This Christmas season, after enlisting the help of nine other prisoners, he crafted earrings, beaded necklaces, and braided leather bracelets.
“I helped start this program because it was the donated gifts on Christmas that made me feel loved as a child,” he said.
Many other prisoners also grew up feeling unloved, Isensee said.
“Most of the men we help never had a chance from the start,” Isensee explained. “Today, their families have given up on them and they have no outside contact. So, it means so much to them to know that other people still care about them.”
The prisoners made a total of 131 crafts, including 27 purses, 34 billfolds, and 44 necklaces. The Salvation Army is distributing the items through Santa Shop with Kids and Barnes County Ministerial.
Isensee is thankful for the cooperation of the James River Correctional Center.
“This is all done with the blessing of the warden and other prison officials,” Isensee said. “Without them, this could not have happened.”
In addition to prison ministry, Isensee and other Salvation Army volunteers in Valley City provide food vouchers, rent and utility assistance, and other critical resources to local families in need.
Similar service units can be found in cities across Minnesota and North Dakota that do not include a Salvation Army operation center. Those who live outside of major cities can learn more about joining or starting a Salvation Army service unit by contacting a Salvation Army field representative in your area.
Service units are funded almost exclusively by kettle donations. You can help by signing up to bell ring in your community.