BUNKER HILL – More than 121 volunteers from the Christmas Behind Bars spread cheer recently handing out goodies and singing gospel songs to the offenders at the Miami Correctional Facility. Christmas Behind Bars is an interdenominational Christ-centered ministry focused on bringing the gospel to inmates. The program promotes the hope inmates will learn there is a different way than turning to crime to cope with their problems. A plastic bag of goodies was handed out to nearly 3,000 offenders at the facility. The bags contained everything from sweets to some hygiene items. The group also brought in boxes of snacks for the the staff at the facility. Lemuel Vega, director of Christmas Behind Bars, coordinates the efforts, gathering up goodies and volunteers from Amish and Mennonite churches in Indiana. The group tries to come to facility every two years. This program can happen at any time of the year, not just Christmas. “It’s quite a big production bringing in the packages for the offenders, “according to Superintendent Kathy Griffin. “We lock down the facility temporarily to deliver the items and allow the volunteers to go into the cell house’s day room to sing and then go to each of the cell doors to deliver the treats. The offenders look forward to the goodies and the visit.