{"id":99746,"date":"2025-12-24T15:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T15:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/99746\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T15:18:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T15:18:11","slug":"how-a-texas-prison-allowed-children-to-celebrate-christmas-with-their-fathers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/99746\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Texas prison allowed children to celebrate Christmas with their fathers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last time Karley Alejo spent Christmas with her dad<\/a> was when she was 3 years old. <\/p>\n

Now 16, Alejo walked into the gym at the Sanders Estes Unit, trying to make eye contact with her father, Julian Alejo, who was wearing a white inmate uniform and a red Christmas hat.<\/p>\n

A South Dallas nonprofit that works with individuals transitioning out of Texas prisons aims to highlight the human side of incarceration. Trinity Restoration Ministries\u2019 holiday gathering in a prison allowed children to celebrate Christmas with their fathers.<\/p>\n

Julian Alejo, 43, who is serving a 30-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, was one of 27 inmates at the Sanders Estes Unit selected to participate in the Christmas with Dads event organized by Trinity Restoration Ministries <\/a>on Dec.19. This south Dallas non-profit organization operates a faith-based reentry program for individuals transitioning out of Texas prisons.<\/p>\n

For the first time since Sanders Estes Prison was established 36 years ago, its gym was transformed into a holiday village for inmates to celebrate Christmas with their children.<\/p>\n

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\"Julian<\/p>\n

Julian Alejo, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, talks with his 16-year-old daughter, Karley, during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025. <\/p>\n

Azul Sordo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

\u201cThis makes it more authentic and personal. Being able to open gifts and not having to just take them home and talk about them,\u201d said Karley Alejo. \u201cYou get to actually be here, to make memories with your family here. It\u2019s amazing.\u201d <\/p>\n

Inmates and volunteers pushed the gym equipment to the side to make room for four Christmas trees surrounded by presents, a red carpet, long tables set up with crafts, books, board games, a face-painting booth and food. <\/p>\n

For a couple of hours, the gym was filled with laughter, shouts, prayers and the sound of children running around. Christmas music played in the background while children sat on their dads\u2019 laps. <\/p>\n

At one point, Santa showed up, and families took photos with him. The portraits were just like any family would take during the holidays. Still, the tall walls, tiny windows, and the wired patio, along with the surveillance cameras, were reminders of where the celebration was being held.<\/p>\n

On two occasions, all the dads left the gym for the mandatory headcount before returning to be with their children. <\/p>\n

Julian Alejo has been incarcerated for 12 years and dreamed of spending Christmas with his daughter. The night before the event, he couldn\u2019t sleep. He couldn\u2019t believe he was going to see her open a Christmas gift. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I\u2019ve been away from her for years, I still have to show her that I\u2019m her dad, I love her, and I\u2019m here for her, and I\u2019m going to support her, and what she does,\u201d Julian Alejo said. \u201cI\u2019m going to advise her wisely, and I\u2019ve got to make sure I\u2019m there for her.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s about the kids, not the adults\u2019<\/p>\n

For Karley Alejo, living all these years with her dad has shown her how incarceration affects families and how society sees the inmates. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like a lot of the time, people believe that if you\u2019re in prison, you did something awful, and you can\u2019t change, and that nobody\u2019s gonna forgive you, and you\u2019re just here,\u201d Karley Alejo said. \u201cBut a lot of the time, a lot of people don\u2019t want that from themselves. They might have made a mistake when they were younger or older, but all the people here have families.\u201d <\/p>\n

Shagala Taylor, 50, decided to take Friday off from work to visit her brother, Larry Taylor, and bring his eight-year-old twins, Champion and Reagyn. <\/p>\n

Larry Taylor, 43, who is serving a 45-year sentence for murder, was surprised by his son. The boy ran toward Larry Taylor to be picked up by \u2018Daddy.\u2019 <\/p>\n

After setting him down, Larry Taylor did the viral \u2018floss dance\u2019 with him. He gave his daughter and sister big hugs. Then, they sat down to wait for their turn to be called out for breakfast. <\/p>\n

\"Larry<\/p>\n

Larry Jr. Taylor, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his eight-year-old twins, Champion and Reagyn, during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025. <\/p>\n

Azul Sordo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes people don\u2019t understand because in their mindset, \u2018Adults knew what they were doing,\u2019 but at the end of the day, it\u2019s not about the adult, it\u2019s about the kids of the incarcerated individuals,\u201d Shagala Taylor said. \u201cYou have to get out of that mindset and bring it down to the kids\u2019 level, understanding how they\u2019re feeling. Got to have empathy and sympathy. I wish there were more programs out here like this.\u201d <\/p>\n

Shagala Taylor added the regular visits are tough for the kids. <\/p>\n

They last two hours, and there\u2019s no physical contact. Sometimes there are crayons and books, but still, the kids get bored and don\u2019t understand why there isn\u2019t a playground or why \u201cDaddy\u201d can\u2019t pick them up or sit them on his lap. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s about the kids. They didn\u2019t have a choice to be part of it. Ground the adults but not the kids,\u201d Shagala Taylor said. <\/p>\n

Larry Taylor treasures the memories of wearing matching pajamas with his children before he was incarcerated in 2022. He hopes one day he and his children can do it again. <\/p>\n

Following the example <\/p>\n

Around 200 volunteers came together to create the one-of-a-kind event, the result of months of planning, said Richard \u201cChico\u201d Smith, executive director of Trinity Restoration Ministries. <\/p>\n

The congregation from Lakepointe Church in Rockwall <\/a>provided approximately 60 volunteers and covered most of the event\u2019s expenses. Volunteers from Templo Betania in Dallas<\/a> also participated by helping with decorations, serving food and greeting the families. <\/p>\n

\u201cJesus told us not to forget about the incarcerated,\u201d said volunteer Carmen Vazquez, 52. \u201cHe set an example for us to serve everyone, especially those who need us the most.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Lamar<\/p>\n

Lamar Simpson, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, holds his sleeping two-year-old son, Jamari during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025. <\/p>\n

Azul Sordo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

With a radio in one hand and a sheet detailing the seating organization and event details, Robin Stephens, a 22-year-old program administrator at the prison, coordinated the event and ensured all guests and inmates followed the prison\u2019s protocols. <\/p>\n

Stephens saw the event as an opportunity for the inmates to feel hopeful and stay motivated. <\/p>\n

Brodgrick Price, the senior warden at Sanders Estes in Venus<\/a>, about 30 miles southwest of Dallas, approved the \u201cChristmas with Dads\u201d event to support the inmates\u2019 rehabilitation. He had no budget for it, and that\u2019s where the nonprofits and volunteers stepped in. <\/p>\n

Price believes in providing inmates with the tools to be successful while incarcerated and, upon release, to rebuild their lives, \u201cbringing people to change the thought process through a rehabilitative approach versus a punitive one,\u201d Price said. \u201cA lot of times, when somebody gets in trouble, people want to punish them, versus getting to the root cause of why the person is acting out.\u201d <\/p>\n

Price was amazed by how the gym was transformed into a holiday party for the children to celebrate Christmas. <\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/p>\n

Kevin Porter ties the shoelaces of his son, Levi, during a Chirstmas with dads event at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus Dec. 19, 2025. <\/p>\n

Azul Sordo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so glad I said yes to this because I can see a lot of lives are being touched,\u201d Price said, adding that some of the inmates were serving 12-, 15- and even 45-year sentences. \u201cFor the kids to be able to come in here and sit with them and open a present in front of them, that touches me.\u201d <\/p>\n

Frederick Pheiffer, 70, is an example of that rehabilitation. He was released four months ago after serving an 18-year sentence for murder. <\/p>\n

Pheiffer graduated from the Trinity Ministries Restoration program and has been able to buy a car, get a job, and slowly reconnect with his family. <\/p>\n

\u2018Those little things\u2019 <\/p>\n

Adrian Casares was catching his breath after running behind his two sons. His 6-year-old wanted to kick the soccer ball, and his 3-year-old was trying to dribble a basketball. <\/p>\n

Casares, 33, is serving a six-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. As soon as he knew about the event, he signed up. He has had good conduct and earned \u2018trusty level status.\u2019 He\u2019s now the barber of the officers. <\/p>\n

\"Adrian<\/p>\n

Adrian Casares, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his sons Ares and Atlas after a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025. <\/p>\n

Azul Sordo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

His wife, Gracey Turner, 23, drove about two hours from Temple to bring the kids to spend the day with their dad. During the whole ride, kids kept asking, \u2018When are we gonna see Daddy?\u2019<\/p>\n

In past holidays, Casares, his wife and their kids used to make a \u2018Christmas crack,\u2019 similar to a cracker jack, with peanuts, sugar, and other ingredients. Then watch movies and open gifts in the morning. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something I miss the most for sure, those little things,\u201d Casares said. \u201c I\u2019m just taking it step by step, trying to change everything about myself for my family, my kids.\u201d <\/p>\n

For Turner, the hardest thing about her husband being incarcerated is raising the children alone. The event allowed them to have a family holiday, like they used to. She said this will be a memory her kids will remember. <\/p>\n

They made crafts, shot Polaroid photos and collected animal-shaped balloons and bags of gifts. <\/p>\n

The celebration lasted only a few hours. By the end, the Christmas trees and hats were put away by the inmates, the tables had been cleared, and the gym returned to its usual function. <\/p>\n

The dads returned to their cells. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The last time Karley Alejo spent Christmas with her dad was when she was 3 years old. Now…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":99747,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1972,10449,1884,27,29,28],"class_list":["post-99746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-holidays","tag-inspired","tag-south-dallas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}