Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-25

On Christmas night Vnson suddenly realized he had
found way to make cherries Christmas little
bearable for the children of convcts He would send
them gifts. He would do it by getting people to help
During early 1913 he rounded up businessmen to
work with him and explained his plan to more than
100 department stores. They pitched in their slightly
damaged goods and leftover Christmas stock to make
small mountain of toys.
Vinson then went back to the McAleser prison. IAN
the prisoner has to do to tell how many children
he has and whether they're boys girls he told the
warden We'll send the gifts to the prisoner and he'll
simply address them to his children. There'l be
way for the kids to know about u.s.. Announcement of
the offer brought cheer from half the inmates
There Is No Gimniek
The next year Vinson wrote letters the wardens Of
every state and federal prison in the country repeating
his offer - and began receiving letters by the sack.
In the instructions to the prisoners Vinson used to
ask them to specify the age of the child but he found
that impractical ITO convict his kid never grows
up Vinson explained MANY times we got requests
for my little GIRL then later discovered that the girl
twenty-five years old. We ask for the birth date now
As the requests poured in, news of Wilson'S work
spread across Oklahoma. Civic, social and church
clubs. well hundreds Of individuals offered to help
him. Manufacturers, stores, even the Air Force fun
neled materials to him.
The operation grew with each year till now it turns
out SUUOUUO gifts IN Il VareS each Christmas. Miles
Of nylon and rayon tons Of aluminium and truckloads
Of cardboard converted into scarves tools, air
planes, puzzles and cut-out toys
Many prisoners can hardly believe that stranger
wants to help them. During visits to penitentiaries
VinSon frequently has been surrounded by convicts
waiting to shake his hand. ME and my buddes
waiting to see what your gimmick was said man,
but you're all right"
At the Michigan City, lnd pententiary, the prison
paper, The Lake Shore Outlook" described Wilson'S
activities, then reported, "Vnson is not politician,
and he isn't running for any Office. This seeks
financial reward He little unreal" In Florida
a group Of convicts expressed appreciation by making
and hand-tooling 200 leather wallets for him.
I'm not looking for thanks" says Vinson. That
doesn't mean thing. But if what you do helps TO
change man little. well, you can't do any better"
While touring the Jackson, Mich. penitentiary Vim
was pulled aside by scar-faced man serving life
sentence for murder. Il came here seven years ago
determined to be the that hit this place.
the man confided. Il made good. | spent more time
in the hole than anyone else Then you sent those
presents for my kids One night was in the sack and
suddenly began to think. Now here's guy who !
don't know and who don't mean thing to me. Yet,
he wants to make Christmas little easier for my fam
lily wouldn't have even the kids card began
to feel different after that. stopped fighting this place.
Letters of gratitude, many containing strong rel
gous note have piled up by the hundreds in Wilson'S