getting an early visit from Santa this week.

With their arms full of Christmas presents, representatives of 13 churches Island-wide will be knocking on the youngsters' doors starting tomorrow.

They will be distributing some 150 gifts which were bought by members of their churches.

Prison Fellowship director Rev. Glenn Caines, who organised the effort -- called Angel Tree, was yesterday overwhelmed by the response.

People were asked to buy gifts costing between $20-50 for the youngsters, who were all contacted by members of a Prison Fellowship task force and asked what they wanted for Christmas.

But many spent more than $50, he said, with someone granting a boy's wish for a bank account with $200 in it! Even the Governor, Lord Waddington, who attends St. John's Church in Pembroke, joined the effort by purchasing a chemistry set for one of the children.

And another church-going resident searched dozens of stores until she came upon a pair of black and white sneakers which one of the youngsters had expressly asked for.

Children of men and women incarcerated in overseas prisons have not been forgotten, Mr. Caines noted. He added it was a difficult task though, because there was no register of such persons.

He said he had also contacted the families of non-Bermudian inmates and spoken with members of churches in their towns to make sure their children received gifts too.

Mr. Caines said the "Angel Tree'' project is organised to foster relationships between churches and families with relatives in jail.

"It will open the door to meaningful relationships between the Christian community and incarceration-affected families,'' he said. "And we want to touch the hearts of the children.'' Mrs. Mathilda Caines, who headed the project, said: "This is my Christmas present right here -- making others happy. Christmas means a lot to children and knocking on their doors with presents specially for them will bring a lot of joy.'' Upwards of $3,000 was spent on the presents and each child will receive at least two gifts.

PLAYING SANTA -- Church members sort out presents bought for children who have a parent in prison over Christmas. From left: Mrs. Muriel Archer, Father Brian Melbourne, Mrs. Carol Thomas and Prison Fellowship leader Rev. Glenn Caines.