The Irrigon (Ore.) Church was contacted by a representative from the Oregon Prison Fellowship Program in November 2014. The letter said there were several children living in foster care in Irrigon whose mothers were incarcerated. The church was asked to supply two or three Christmas presents to each child, with a limit of $15–$25. This project was called the Angel Tree. These gifts were provided as though from the parent.
The church board decided to participate. Board members were informed that, out of four churches contacted in Irrigon, theirs was the only church who responded.
Donations from the church members were taken to buy the gifts. Then two ladies went shopping to buy the gifts that were requested by the mothers. The gifts were wrapped by two other ladies and then were delivered to the foster homes by Joel Stahl, a church elder, and his family while the children were in school. Each child was also presented with a Bible from the Irrigon Church.
The children were told that these presents were from their mothers. The Angel Tree project was successful, and Irrigon members plan to do it again this year.
