| Correctional Compass January 2005 |
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Jacksonville P&P Aids the Angels
By CPSO Jennifer A. Whipple, 04-2 Jacksonville South
Each year for the past 7 years, the Jacksonville Probation and Parole Circuit is involved with a local non-profit agency called Angel Aid. Angel Aid is a non-profit foundation and ministry that provides much needed services for children and families who have fallen "between the cracks".
Angel Aid provides services to children suffering from terminal or critical illnesses or are in life threatening situations. Angel Aid provides services to over 2,200 Jacksonville children and families. Each year in mid November, Angel Aid Founder Dr. Carl Shipley, provides a list of "angels" to Correctional Probation Supervisor Lisa Marshall at the Jacksonville North Probation and Parole Office. Lisa Marshall then co-ordinates and assists in the adoption process of each "angel". Each "angel" has provided a wish list and identified the one item they wish to receive at Christmas. The list is then sent to the 7 Jacksonville Probation and Parole Offices. This year alone, 60 "angels" were adopted by employees in the Jacksonville area and over $300 in cash and gift certificate donations were received. "Angels" ranged in age from 2 years to 16 years old and requested gifts ranging from cat toys to stereo systems. The gifts are then distributed to the "angel" parents for the "angels" to unwrap on Christmas day. Sadly, some "angels" do not live to Christmas day to receive their "angel" gifts.
This year, Correctional Probation Senior Officer Theresa Kilis went way beyond the call of duty in participating in this year’s Angel Aid project. As Officer Kilis stated, she initially got involved with Angel Aid 7 or 8 years ago as she "knew deep down that I had so many blessings in my life that how could I not spend $20.00 on a toy for a child, terminal or not". Each year, Officer Kilis began to pick more and more "angels" and topped herself this year when she decided to adopt 15 "angels", specifically, those marked terminal, wheelchair bound, homebound and those on feeding tubes. As Officer Kilis stated, "I knew those angels had to be cared for. It was like a light bulb had went off one day and I decided to do a garage sale".
Having no experience in the garage sale business, Officer Kilis enlisted the help of family and friends in getting together items to sell. Officer Kilis decided to have the garage sale on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving with a goal of raising maybe $250.00. Little did she know, but Officer Kilis raised $250.00 alone on the first day of the garage sale! Officer Kilis was even more amazed when she raised an additional $450.00 on the second day of the garage sale. It was beyond Officer Kilis’ wildest dreams that she would have ever raised $700.00 at her initial foray into the garage sale business.
So often during this busy Holiday season, we forget about the true spirit and meaning of Christmas, the selfless giving and sharing with others. Well this "Christmas" spirit and meaning was not forgotten by Officer Kilis.
Even more amazing was whom she would meet at her garage sale. According to Officer Kilis, "Saturday was extraordinary and not because of the sale". As Officer Kilis tells it, "A lady came to the garage sale and noticed my sign that I had posted stating that all proceeds were being donated to Angel Aid. She then asked me if I knew Carl Shipley, and I told her no I did not. My friend went on to tell this lady about an angel I had picked that only wanted Vanilla Ensure. The lady was shocked and just held her hand over her open mouth." It turned out that the mother of that little "angel" was actually the lady who had come across Officer Kilis’ garage sale. This was one of the "angels" that Officer Kilis had selected to adopt. Officer Kilis later found out that she had also adopted another "angel" child of this woman. According to Officer Kilis, "When I heard that, I couldn’t speak. I will never forget this moment in time. I still get goose bumps even now. Getting to meet the parent of one of the angels has made me want to give and do more. It is extremely fulfilling and rewarding".
Was it coincidence or fate that brought that mother to Officer Kilis’ garage sale? It was as Dr. Shipley stated, "proof of angels at work". We as individuals never truly know whose life we will touch or change with our selfless acts of kindness. Officer Kilis’ selfless acts of kindness are a true representation of the Christmas spirit at work!!!
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| Correctional Compass January 2005 |