BOB ABERNETHY: We recently visited the jail in Washington, DC with 11 children brought there to see their mothers, who are locked up. They call it "Mother-to-Child Summer Camp."The idea is to help the mothers and their kids stay close to each other, so when the mothers eventually go home, their transition will be easier. It's a project of the DC jail, a women's rights group called the Rebecca Project, and Hope House, a faith-based ministry.
CAROL FENNELLY (Director, Hope House): Well, I take very seriously the Matthew 25 passage that says, "Feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned."ABERNETHY: Most of the mothers are young and are in jail on charges related to drugs, especially crack cocaine. They demonstrated for their kids a step-show they had made up for their daily jail inspection.
ABERNETHY: One project for the children was to create life-size murals showing what they want to do when their mothers come home. The boys chose sports; the girls -- to go shopping, especially for high-end fashion.
CHANDA COOLEY (Inmate Mother): I'm not proud of being locked up, you know, but it has taught me and my kids a lot. He has told me that, "Mommy, it's all right." And I've let him know that Mommy makes mistakes, too.
