Sharing the Christmas spirit with families affected by incarceration

Again this year, Catholics around the Diocese of Oakland showed their amazing generosity, and, under the coordination of Matt Gray from the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, the diocese's detention ministry collected over $10,500, which will be distributed, in the form of gift cards, to families affected by incarceration, Richard Denoix, coordinator of the detention ministry, reports.

Using gift cards -- Walmart and Target -- allowed us to still contribute to the Christmas gift program despite the COVID restrictions, he said. So far, 415 children from 192 families have received a gift card.

Pictured, from left to right, are from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Deputy Baumann, Deputy White, Richard Denoix, Sergeant Molleson and Matt Gray.