Children's book drive is under way for incarcerated parents in Tulsa

The children can follow along, and listening to Mom read improves their reading, said the Rev. Ed Light, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

The northwest Oklahoma City church is helping collect books to send to the Tulsa County jail for its bedtime stories program.

“When a parent is incarcerated, you have a child who is left without a parent,” Light said.

“Parents and adults reading with children is extremely important and makes a huge impact on kids' lives, improves their grades and attitudes.”

Light said the need for such a program is great in Oklahoma, which has the highest number of incarcerated women in the nation on a per capita basis.

“I can see how there is a huge need,” Light said.

“It gives children a connection to their mother.”

More than 20 United Methodist churches in Oklahoma have helped collect books for the Tulsa jail program, said Mike Hardgrove, chaplain and program director.

There is a constant need for more books — new or used — so parents can read different stories for their children.

“The purpose is for us to help in a small way to maintain the relationship between the parent and the child while the parent is here in jail,” Hardgrove said.