Help build a playground for the family visiting area at the Oregon State Penitentiary!


The Need

Prison, by nature, separates inmates from their communities and families. This can have devastating effects on the children whose fathers are absent.

The Visiting Room at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) is a place where parent-child relationships can be healed, restored, and strengthened. It is a place where families gather together to laugh, cry and connect with one another face-to-face. It is a place where a father can hug and encourage his sons and daughters, making lasting positive impact in his children’s lives.

The men of OSP’s “Lifer’s Unlimited Club” manage the Visiting Room at the prison. They wish to create more opportunities for OSP fathers to interact with and positively impact the lives of their children. Right now, dads can read with their children, color together, play video and board games together or simply watch a movie together.

To this mix, they would like to add a playground area.

They are requesting help raising funds to construct an outdoor playground for the visiting children of OSP inmates, giving children and their fathers more opportunity to interact together.



The Impact

Imagine the impact a playground can have:

When a boy climbs to the top of a play structure and yells “Dad, catch me!” as he leaps off into the open arms of his father… trust is being restored.

When a father pickups his young daughter and set her at the top of the slide, and then runs to catch her at the bottom as she squeals with delight all the way down… joy is being restored.

When a daddy holds his daughter tight in his arms as they fly high together on the swing set… a sense of security is being restored.

When a young man, while tossing the football with his dad, sees that his father is transforming into a new man… hope is being restored.


You see, playgrounds aren’t just for playing.

Sometimes they are for healing emotions, overcoming challenges and restoring relationships.  



The Vision

Lifer’s Unlimited Club’s vision is to install play structures for climbing, sliding, and swinging; as well as a walking track, picnic tables, benches for seating. Their wish is to begin construction on the new playground in January or February of 2016.


The total cost could reach up to $32,000. They will install as many features as they are able to afford. To help reach their financial goal, they are applying for grant money, asking for material donations and holding fundraisers.



This Fundraiser

Calvary Chapel Southeast, which has a weekly church service at OSP, is coming alongside this project and helping in its fundraising efforts via this online giving website.

We have set a goal of raising $5,000 towards the OSP Family Playground project.

If you can help in anyway with this playground fund, please do! Your prayers and donations are very much appreciated by the fathers at OSP.


Thank you!

For more information about the OSP Family Playground project, contact:

Pastor Tim
OSP Prison Ministry
Calvary Chapel Southeast
503-997-9914