The Prison Ministry Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Sharon Daboin, CSX resident vice president, hands a $10,000 check for Camp Amazing Grace to the Bishop Suffragan of Maryland, John L. Rabb, while Rick Conover, left, and Will Pass, right, look on.

By Val Hymes

Camp Amazing Grace received a huge boost recently with a $10,000 check from CSX, the major North American transportation service 23 states, including Maryland. Camp Amazing Grace, now entering its fifth year, is held for 8- 12-year-old children of prisoners and is trying to expand to serve teenagers as well,

The check was presented by Sharon A. Daboin, resident vice president for state government and community affairs Feb. 3 to Bishop Suffragan John L. Rabb, Rick Conover, Camp Committee chair, and Will Pass, 2009-10 camp director.

Bishop Rabb said, “People don’t realize how important this kind of community support is to a ministry like this.” The money will be used for scholarships to send the graduating campers to regular summer camps at the Bishop Claggett Center near Frederick, and to offer leadership and environmental workshops for all the campers.

Camp Amazing Grace is for the innocent victims of crime who could have a 70 percent chance of going to prison too. It can help break the cycle of incarceration tearing apart Maryland families with a week of healing and emotional support. After returning to camp more than once, several children are now on the honor roll, in a gifted and talented class or have received a full scholarship to a private academy.

“CSX works hard to help the communities where it operates,” said Daboin. “For example, we have promised to plant a tree for every one of the 21,000 miles of track in the CSX network over five years.” She said CSX is also helping to restore a youth recreation center in Brooklyn, Md. Some CSX employees may also volunteer to help at Camp Amazing Grace.

CSX looks to partner with local organizations to keep communities, children and the environment safe, she added. More than 2,200 employees have volunteered 9,400 service days over the past three years, including mentoring and tutoring children. Read about some of their stories at www.keeponliving.org/

Val Hymes is coordinator of the prison Ministry Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, sponsor of Camp Amazing Grace.

About this site:
There are more than 2 million men and women in federal, state and local prisons and jails, according to figures released by the Department of Justice. An estimated 2 million children in the United States have at least one parent who is, or has been, in jail.

There are many ways to help minister to these children of God: inside and outside prison walls; before and after imprisonment. The pages on this site describe some of those ministries and programs in the Diocese and elsewhere and provide contact information. Check the links on the top left corner of the page.