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Stumble It!On May 3rd the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport will break a few rules to allow fathers in prison to see their children for an entire day. NewsChannel 5’s Renee Allen reports.
Behind these prison walls are more than 1,000 inmates, many of them are fathers. 33 year-old Ronald Olivier of New Orleans is a father. Olivier is serving a natural life sentence for 2nd Degree Murder. “I really don’t want them to grow-up promiscious and have children out of wedlock,” explains Olivier.
Olivier’s the father of two girls one 12 and the other is 8 years old. He says he hasn’t seen his girls since November. “I constantly express my love to them and not just tell them but show them,” says Olivier.
This is Lydon Azcuna of Awana Ministries. Awana is a non-profit children’s ministry and it’s the largest in the country. Azcuna is here at Avoyelles Correctional Center to set-up their “Returning Hearts Celebration” for May 3. That’s where incarcerated fathers will be reconnected with there children.
The assistant warden says they’re excited about the program. They have about 60 other incarcerated fathers signed-up. “It’s going to enable our inmates to spend a full day with their children, reconnecting and even forming a positive relationship with their children,” says Myrna Cooper.
And as for Olivier, he’s behind bars but he’s still a father longing to see his children once again. “Like eight o’clock in the morning until four that evening. You have all those hours with just you and you’re kids,” says Olivier. For more information on Awana Ministries call (630) 213-3000 or visit http://www.awana.org