Columbia, SC (WLTX) – South Carolina inmates who are mothers were able to give the gift of their voice to their children this Christmas.
The sound of a mom’s voice is what kids long to hear.
Lisa Scott's daughter is at Graham Correctional off of Broad River Road. She says her grandson has been waiting for this gift for a long time.
"I think it's very important for the child, that he maintain contact of voice, with voice. Tears are going to fall because we'll have her voice, not just on the phone," said Scott.
Inmate moms at this facility were able to earn their way to giving their kids a special gift this year.
Moms were able to record their voice reading a book to their kids. The books they could choose to read from were My Wish for You, God Loves You, And I Do Too!, and Goodnight, My Little Sleepyhead.
Governor Henry McMaster's Wife, Peggy, said an article sparked an idea.
"There’s just something about children hearing their mother’s voice. When I read the article, of course I started crying and I called Brian Sterling and said, 'This is a wonderful thing and I'm just so excited that these women are going to have a connection with their children,’" said McMaster.
With the turn of each page, a child can hear the voice of their mother reading to them.
Besides reading the book, a mom was able to say other messages to their kids to remind them to brush their teeth or say their prayers at night.
Carolyn Johnson, who knows someone in the facility, says this makes Christmas that much sweeter.
"It's the spirit of Christmas. It makes them feel like they're together more. Even though we visit regularly about every weekend, the kids come when they're not busy. It's just a special thing to hear a voice," said Johnson.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections were able to purchase the books through donations, grants, and discounts given from churches and other organizations. The department says each one cost around $30 a piece.
Families hope this tradition will continue for years to come.