GIFTS FOR CHIPS
The Episcopal Diocese Prison Concerns Committee is in its 33rd year of helping to provide
gifts for Children of Incarcerated Parents (ChIPs). As we try to meet the needs of those in prison,
especially the children of inmates at Christmas, we see the innocent victims of crime and the
effect felt most painfully in these young hearts. These children will be missing at least one
parent this Christmas. They will miss an irretrievable piece of childhood through no fault of
their own. We feel blessed to be able to ease that hurt, if only for a short while.

The demands on the program have grown each year, and thankfully, so has the response. In
2009 we distributed 700 gifts and an equal number of new books to incarcerated parents to give
to their children. We hope to do even better for this year's ChIPS drive.
Won’t you help us make a difference? Drop off gifts or monetary donations at your
church. The delegates to the Diocesan Convention will bring them to the Convention on
November 6 where they will be transported to Blass Clubhouse at St. Paul’s School for sorting.
The dates for sorting are tentatively set for November 8 through November 10.

There are many ways you can help. You can volunteer to collect gifts and serve as your
parish’s contact, help sort the gifts at St. Paul’s, help with the wrapping of the gifts. Wrapping will
take place on December 1. If you are interested in wrapping, I must know by
November 1. For more information, or if you wish to volunteer, please contact Margaret
Mackie-Ciancio at 603 432-7679 or at mmciancio@comcast.net.
From the Prison Concerns Committee, from the children who will be touched by your
efforts, and for your willingness to be a part of this project, we are inspired by the gospel of
Matthew (22:40), “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it
to me.”.

Gift Guidelines
We group gifts according the following age groups:
Birth to 2; ages 3 to 4; ages 5 to 7; ages 8-11;
ages 12-14; and ages 15-18

Gifts should not exceed $20 (original retail value).
One $20 gift is preferable to four $5 gifts as it is difficult to group items
together to equal a $20 gift. If you don’t want to purchase a $20
gift, any monetary donation would be great and used by the committee to
purchase as many $20 gifts or books as possible. If you purchase a gift that requires
batteries, please purchase those as well and attach them to the gift. It’s so
discouraging to receive a gift with no batteries.

We hope to collect a new book for each child as well as a gift.
Consider buying a gift that would be appropriate for both boys and girls such
as balls or board games. Don’t forget the older children. It is
often easier to buy gifts for younger children. There is always a shortage of
gifts for older children. No used books or toys can be accepted.
None of the following items are acceptable: balloons, crayons, play
dough, glue, bubbles, make up, long sticks or paint brushes, glass items,
clothing, sharp tools or toy weapons of any kind.