Foundation of HOPE Distributes Annual Holiday Gifts
Published on December 19, 2025
The Foundation of HOPE’s annual holiday package distribution program continues to be an anticipated and beloved institution at the Allegheny County Jail.
HOPE staff members and volunteers joined jail staff personnel to distribute more than 1,800 care packages to the entire incarcerated population on December 10.
“It is a great opportunity to give back,” said Anthony Igwe, the ACJ Director of Chaplaincy and HOPE employee. “For a lot of the residents, this is a good time to show them some kind of normalcy of life, that they’re not forgotten, and that people still care for them.”
The staff and volunteers in teams of two take a cart filled with enough gift packages for each housing unit and go door-to-door distributing the packages and spreading holiday cheer.
The distribution process itself is the culmination of months of planning and donation collecting, and follows the packing process, which occurs the week before. The packing process on Dec. 3 was the first time Tre’ Thomas, ACJ Activities-Based Program Director, took part in the action.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Thomas said, as staff members and volunteers stuffed the gift packages with gifts that included bar soap, toothpaste, shampoo, candy, pens and paper and additional sundry items.
The packing process, said Igwe, made a big impact on the staff and volunteers.
“The thing that struck me the most was the sense of joy,” Igwe said. “There was a lot of joy, a lot of carefreeness in the packing process, even with the other possible frustrations you could get in trying to get things set up. That was really helpful (and) to see that type of energy was incredible.”
Media inquiries may be directed to Jesse Geleynse, Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Jail
jesse.geleynse@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-350-1267 or 412-760-4760 (cell).