SANTA CLARITA / ANTELOPE VALLEY : Church Brightens Holidays for Inmates’ Children : Giving: Canyon Country congregation holds dinner and presents gifts as part of nationwide Angel Tree program.

A Canyon Country congregation has made the holiday season a bit brighter for about 100 people who might not otherwise have had a chance to celebrate.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Saturday afternoon held a turkey dinner and presented gifts to children who have one parent serving time in Los Angeles County jails. It was all part of the Angel Tree program that is operated nationally and served about 300,000 children last year.

“To me, this is the true meaning of Christmas,” said Donna Skinner, a church member who helped organize the event. “God loves a cheerful giver.”

The program was held in the church’s gymnasium and included caroling and opening of gifts.

Pictures of each family were taken and will be sent to whichever family member could not attend.

Contributors spent up to $20 per gift, generally buying clothing, a game or something educational. Typical items included sports balls, Barbie dolls and sweat shirts.

“When you give something, you always get something back,” said Duane Brunette, church pastor. “For a lot of people, it’s the first time they’ve done something for someone they didn’t know.”

A Pacoima woman who attended the meal with her two sons said the event is important because it is the only holiday celebration they will have.

“I love it, it’s great. It’s nice that they wanted us in their church,” she said.

One son received a Los Angeles Raiders cap and the other was given a football and an air pump.

“This is really important,” the woman said. “It’s their Christmas.”

About 30,000 California children who have a parent in prison will receive gifts through Angel Tree this year, said Brian Kennedy, Los Angeles area director for Prison Fellowship, which sponsors the program.

Organizers hope to maintain contact with the families after the holiday season, offering the children access to a supportive relationship.

“Angel Tree is what I call our preventive ministry,” Kennedy said. “Children with parents in prison are the most likely to go to prison themselves.”

“If we could just maybe rescue some of them from going down the same path as their parents . . .,” Brunette said.

Parents were first contacted in prison to determine if they wanted their child to receive a gift as part of the program. Church members then purchased an item based on the suggestions of the parents.

“It gives the inmate a chance to connect with their family,” said Kennedy. “The inmate has an opportunity to touch their family in a way they can’t usually.”

“Believe it or not, some of them turned us down,” Brunette said. “They said ‘My kid’s so spoiled, they don’t need anything else.’ ”

Collection efforts went on for about a month, and Brunette hopes to make the gift drive an annual event.

“It’s a powerful program,” said Kennedy. “A lot of people get involved and get excited.”