making spirits bright
Story by Ashley Elvington • Laura McBryde Photography
andrea ford
T
here are things we go through in life that truly test our character,
someone who cares enough to try to mend the broken condition of their family.
circumstances which can make or break us and are never short of
When Christmas arrives, the giving has yet to cease, as each child is given a present
life-changing. Andrea Ford experienced such an event in 1992, the
in the name of the parent. “These parents don’t have the money or the ability to send
beginning of her incarceration period that would last for 11 years.
a gift, so we do it for them. We find out from the guardian what the child would like for
Leaving behind three children (ages 2, 5 and 8) in her mother’s care,
Christmas and do our very best to provide it. We then put the parent’s name on the
Andrea was devastated. “Being away from my children was very hard. I took anger man-
gift. It is such a wonderful feeling watching a child smile, knowing that their parent is
agement and parenting courses, but what helped me most were the Christian organi-
thinking of them.”
zations that came into the institution to let us know that God loves us and that He is
Another important component the program provides is counseling. “Statistics show
always there for us. It was nothing but the grace of God that helped me through this
that most children with incarcerated parents are likely to be incarcerated themselves
difficult time in my life.” Things were challenging for her mother and children as well.
one day. Our goal is to change that statistic and give these kids a better opportunity in
“It was very hard for my mother to take care of them, let alone bring them to visit me.
life. Children love their parents, even when they make mistakes. More than likely, these
At times, it would be up to 18 months or more before we were able to see each other.”
parents will be coming home to their children. My hope is to build a relationship so,
Young and unable to understand why they couldn’t see their mom as much as they’d
once the parent returns home, they won’t be strangers to their children and they can
like, the children became angry with Andrea’s mom. Thankfully, all relationships were
have a new start in life, like I did.” Andrea has seen these children, as well as her own,
restored when Andrea came back home.
in rather heartbreaking emotional states. “Some are broken, feeling unloved and aban-
When she once again became a free woman, Andrea searched for ways to use her testimony. “After coming home and getting my life on the right track, I asked God to help me
doned. After receiving counseling, their spirits are lifted through a sense of knowing that
their parents love them and that this is in no way their fault.”
help others.” Knowing firsthand what it was like to be in prison and away from family,
Although she cannot replace the time she lost with her own children, Andrea is grate-
Andrea was inspired to create Bicyclist Building Bridges, a non-profit organization that
ful to be able to help others who are in the same condition as she was. “My greatest
transports children to prisons in order to visit their parents. “I started a bicycle club in my
blessing is just knowing that I’m helping children. I wish this program had been around
hometown, and building a bridge is what I felt was needed for these children and their
for my children. I’m sure that it would have helped them out a lot. But, it is truly a
incarcerated parents. I prayed about it, and God gave me Bicyclist Building Bridges.”
blessed feeling when you see children smiling after coming from visiting their parents
To qualify for BBB, a child must live in South Carolina and have another parent or
for the first time.”
guardian who is willing to go into the prison with them for visits. Once the children
Andrea is hoping to fulfill her dream of opening a community center for the children in
are enrolled in the program, Andrea and her team take them to see their incarcerated
the program to interact with other children who have incarcerated parents. She is also
parents every three months, at no cost to them. Andrea and two members pick up
hoping to get sponsorship for funding and approval of their 501(c)3 status. In the mean-
the children and their guardians for a two-hour visit to the prison, after which they
time, she is thanking God for the ability to use her struggles as a way to help others. “It
take them out for a meal before returning them home. “The families of these children
has given my heart great joy each and every time I take children to visit their parents
are very grateful, because most of them don’t have the funding to travel frequently.”
and see the glow on their faces once they come o WB