For many years, Beltway Park Church in Abilene, Texas has hosted a project that blesses the almost 3000 inmates at the French-Robertson Unit. In 2024, Beltway Park asked Steps Recovery Center to adopt this project, and with great honor we adopted it. 

This project consists of a lot of work and many donors. Steps Recovery Center’s board member Chris Cummings (aka Puddin’) is the champion of this project. 

After funding has been secured mid-year, we begin the process of acquiring all of the bag items.  The bags are filled with useful items like toothpaste and a toothbrush, soap, socks, coffee, candy canes, and many more items.  After all items are in place we build the sacks at Love and Care ministries.  The 3000 bags will be completed in a short time with plenty of fun while building the bags.  The bags are then placed in containers that will be trucked to the Robertson Unit.  The security team at Robertson will inspect every single bag to make sure each bag has exactly the same items before being distributed to the inmates.  On the big day, a team of trained volunteer men will cover the unit, handing out one bag to each inmate.  Our team of volunteers is assisted by some of the inmates selected to participate.  This project is a big deal to the men.  The day is filled with true joy and happiness.  For many this will be the only thing they receive all year.  We have witnessed men cry over receiving a bar of soap or a pair of new socks.  It’s that powerful.  They are very appreciative and thank us over and over again.  Many have shared they’ve been on other units and never received a gift like this.    This project costs between $25,000 and $ 30,000.  This is why having donors is so important to the success of this amazing blessing.  Large or small, all gifts are deeply appreciated and we are good stewards with God’s money.