SCSO | Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee donates gift baskets to inmates

SENECA COUNTY, OH | Christmas arrived early at the Seneca County Jail this year. On December 20, around 20 members of the Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee assembled in the jail’s training room to assemble holiday gift baskets for the inmates.

Each basket contained various items, such as activity books, pencils, toothpaste, deodorant, chips, and candy bars.
The committee has been providing these gift baskets to the jail for 30 years.

“Every single person housed in the jail gets one,” said Cpl. Barbara Brooks, who helps organize the event with Chaplaincy Committee Chairman John Bergman from Bible Baptist Church.

Cpl. Brooks handed out the gifts later that day. With the jail currently holding approximately 150 inmates, the group prepared about 165 bags, keeping the extras for any new arrivals during the week.

“I get a lot of thank yous,” Cpl. Brooks said. “For some, this is the only Christmas gift they’ll get.”

The Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee is an ecumenical organization made up of representatives from various local churches. It was established in 1994 by Sister Jackie Doepker with the goal of providing spiritual support to inmates. The tradition of Christmas gift baskets has continued since that time.

“We’ve done this every year, except the COVID year,” said Sister Maureen Studer, who has been involved with the Chaplaincy Committee since its second meeting in 1994.

Delivering Christmas gifts is just one aspect of the committee’s broader work at the jail. On every weekday, a committee member visits the facility to conduct voluntary one-on-one sessions with inmates, allowing them to discuss any concerns with clergy.

For many years, the group also led religious services inside the jail, but these were halted under a prior administration during the COVID period.

“When Sheriff (Fredrick) Stevens came in, he allowed us to do one-on-one visits,” Sister Maureen said. “We’re glad the Sheriff came in and let us do them.”

These weekday visits are making a significant difference for the inmates.

“Any inmate who wants to can see clergy,” Bergman said. “We’ve had good success with the one-on-one. They appreciate it so much.”

Bergman feels privileged to serve on the Chaplaincy Committee. He initially felt apprehensive about ministry in a jail environment, but attending a service there years ago transformed his perspective.

“The inmates were so quiet. They were focused on the preaching,” Bergman said. “That’s the first day my ‘wanter’ was changed. God changed what I wanted to do. This is what I want to do now.”

Committee member Wendell Rogers assists in securing Bibles through Rock of Ages Prison Ministries, which are then given to inmates at no cost. Earlier in December, the group also supplied each inmate with two Christmas cards and stamps to send greetings to their families.

None of the Chaplaincy Committee’s initiatives, including the gift baskets, rely on taxpayer funds. All items are donated by local businesses, churches, and committee members.

The baskets offer a touch of holiday spirit to inmates spending Christmas incarcerated and separated from loved ones. Many jail staff members will similarly be away from their families during the holidays. Cpl. Brooks worked on Thanksgiving and is scheduled to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Inmates benefit from her dedication and that of the other caring staff during this time.

“On Thanksgiving, I spent a good half hour with an inmate who was having a hard time,” she said. “I talked with him. It’s hard for them to be away from family on a holiday.”