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TOY SHORTFALL: A charity steps forward to ensure that children of Pinellas jail inmates will have Christmas gifts.
By MELIA BOWIE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 22, 2001
Jail didn't make her cry.
But the thought of her five children celebrating Christmas without her -- and without gifts -- reduced Lacharda Norris to tears.
"I really wanted them to have the best Christmas," said the soft-spoken mother, who is serving 10 months in Pinellas County Jail on bad check charges.
That's why Norris said she was so grateful to learn of the small group of prison chaplains and volunteers who have organized sponsors and provided toys for inmates' children during the past 12 years.
But word of their services seemed to spread at the least opportune time for the charitable group, which has operated the program on a small scale. Like many others this Christmas, the chaplains suddenly found themselves short on supplies and inundated with requests.
"We had 202 children this year that we didn't know what to do with," said senior chaplain John Whetzel Jr., who helps administer the program through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Nearly 500 applications had been turned in by jailed mothers and fathers, each averaging three or four children.
In a year marked by tightened belts and budgets, the churches and parishioners typically relied upon to donate gifts had already done what they could, said Chaplain John Schroeder.
The jail's gift givers were bracing for the worst when help arrived from an unexpected source: another charity.
"I guess nobody extends themselves far enough to think there are inmates in the jail and they have kids (who) need Christmas too," said Ann Marie Paradis, "shop boss" at Toys for Tots in Pinellas County. About 27 years ago, when Paradis first began collecting gifts for needy children, her mission was simple: to ensure no child fell through the cracks.
Early this month, she contacted chaplains' assistant and gift coordinator Dee Taylor to offer 500 toys to the group.
Taylor was floored.
"I've never had someone want to give me all these toys to distribute," she said.
This year may be busier than ever, but "with Toys for Tots getting involved, it's going to be better than ever."