Passer Noël autrement : et si vous rendiez visite aux prisonniers ?

Distribution of meals, animation of New Year's Eve with the homeless, marauding with prostitutes, visits of single people, imprisoned or even sick children ... If you want to volunteer on Christmas Day, it's not too late: associations need your arms for their actions. For example: visiting prisoners.

Deprived of their liberty, Christmas time is particularly difficult for prisoners, especially those whose distant families cannot come to visit them. Providing support and sharing with inmates the joy and depth of the Christmas mystery is a way to celebrate the birth of Christ, who also experienced prison. Unlike the attitude of those who sometimes too easily put stigmatizing labels on others, Christ's gaze is quite different. It breaks what separates, excludes and isolates. Everyone always has the opportunity to get up.
Feeling compassion for those who suffer from lack of freedom may be this gesture that will help the prisoner visited to get up and take another path of life. A gesture that will also transform the visitor... Chaplains, prison visitors, correspondents: there is no shortage of volunteer opportunities to discreetly help those who are removed from society, isolated, often destitute both materially and psychologically and spiritually.

Here are some of the most important initiatives of the associations aimed at inmates during the Christmas period. If one of them inspires you, if you feel the particular call to take advantage of Christmas to visit the inmates, a few clicks are enough to the links we indicate to you below the presentation of each of them.

1.
VISIT INGCS
Every December, the Catholic Relief distributes parcels to inmates in many French prisons. A unique opportunity to provide support, to meet, to exchange with prisoners for volunteers who admit that this action brings them at least as much as to those they visit. As Denise, a volunteer with Catholic Relief, explains: "Those who don't have a visit are sensitive to the fact that they are brought in to bring something. For often, material poverty and isolation go hand in hand. Going to meet them and bring a look, a smile, selfless listening and consideration is essential for these people. To volunteer click on this link here.

2.
DISTRIBUTE PARCELS WITH THE RED CROSS
In its social action to help and reintegrate those incarcerated, the Red Cross organizes year-round meetings and support activities. Christmas is a highlight of the year, especially dedicated to the donations of parcels that need to be made and distributed. The "prison-justice volunteer" mission is thus a key mission with the objective: to create a real bond and an exchange, the first step towards reintegration. To volunteer, click on the link here.

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