Coffee Creek inmates see ‘Through a Child’s Eyes’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The looks on everyone’s faces said it all. The annual event at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility brought smiles and tears of joy to both the incarcerated moms and their kids.

For its 22nd year, Through a Child’s Eyes let moms and kids come together to enjoy a barbecue, games, arts and crafts, even back-to-school haircuts.

Described as a “carnival-style” event and in partnership with the Wilsonville Rotary, the facility also had their own booths, showcasing what they’re doing with their time, including fire crew, butterfly lab, as well as puppy training.

Christina, currently locked up in Coffee Creek, told KOIN 6 News she planned on doing face-paint and manicures with her daughter, Angelica, then pickleball with her 16-year-old son.

She said activities like this through TACE bring a crucial time to bond with her children, as well as a sense of normalcy instead of the fear that typically comes from visiting someone behind bars.

“Just because they’re incarcerated doesn’t mean that we don’t love our children, because all of us moms love our children very much, and they mean the world to us,” Christina said. “That’s just what comes to mind to me is that we’re still moms and we still deserve and our kids deserve to have this opportunity to spend time with each other and this sense of being normal.”

Shaelynne, who is also in Coffee Creek, echoed the importance of TACE, especially to bond with her son Jayden, who was born on June 21. She was pregnant with him while incarcerated.

“Being pregnant here, it sucks. It sucks. It really does,” Shaelynne said. “Just leaving the hospital empty, it was really hard. But with this event and my grandparents bringing him, it helps a lot.”

Important to give back

Andi Goff, who was behind bars at Coffee Creek from 2006 to 2008, is now a counselor. She said it’s important to her to give back.

“This is one of the events that meant a lot when I was here and my kids were able to come, one of the only times that my son would come and visit. Other times were just too hard for him. But my girls came more often,” Goff said.

A day like this, she said, is “where you get to be a mom and you get to interact with your kids more than when you’re sitting at a table. And it’s a lot harder to visit with them and to get to know them when you’re just sitting at a table and worried about what you touch.”

It’s important, Goff said, for moms to know their kids are still there. “We have made mistakes, but that doesn’t define us. And our kids still love us no matter what.”

Months of planning

It takes months to plan and coordinate the once-a-year event, Superintendent Charlotte Thrasher said.

“There are so many generous community volunteers here who, really, spend time for the last eight months planning the event and coordinating all the things for, entertainment for the day. And just a generous group of people, through the Rotary and blessing them,” Thatcher said. “It just continues to grow and become more fun and exciting for everyone.”

The chair of the event, Kyle Bunch, said there are about 60 volunteers, mostly just from the community “who’ve gotten connected to this event.”

Bunch said this is unique event that doesn’t happen anywhere else.

“They have four hours of uninterrupted time that they get to sit on their mom’s lap, eat lunch with them, play games with them, and really have the freedom that they don’t get to normally have visitation. And so that special bond they get to see, it’s it’s worth coming back year after year for the volunteers.”