Angel Tree connects 'angels' with children

MCCOOK, Nebraska -- It was about this time of the year a couple of years ago when Wynn and Dyanna Miller of Cambridge, Nebraska, encountered the angel from the white car.

They had set up a garage sale on a location on B Street, hoping to earn enough money to send a sizable donation to Angel Tree.

A part of the Prison Fellowship Ministry, Angel Tree connects incarcerated parents with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts, according to its Website, angeltree.org.

But the Millers weren't getting many customers."We starting praying, and Wynn said, 'If I could just get $100 in my hand, it would be a great sign of encouragement," Dyanna recalled. A short time later, she said a white car drove up, and a man dressed in white got out.

The man was a stranger to both Dyanna and Wynn, yet "he asked for Wynn, and put in his hand a folded-up $100 bill," Dyanna said. "That was just so awesome."

The Millers are still doing Angel Tree and are still hoping for a few more angels to show up.

One in every 28 children in the US has a parent behind bars, according to a 2010 study done by the Pew Research Center's Economic Mobility Project. In all, about 2.7 million children have at least one parent behind bars.

Angel Tree works when a prisoner behind bars puts his or her name on an Angel Tree List. This list is sent out to area representatives, who buy a modest gift for the children.

But Angel Tree does more than just give gifts. Angel Tree representatives connect with the children and share the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ.

This year, there are no local children to buy for, Dyanna said. Instead, every dollar sent in to Angel Tree will be matched. Joan Koch at the E Free Church said $411 has been received so far.

To send a donation, go to www.angeltree.org. You could be that one angel a child is looking for.