This Christmas won’t be the first holiday Shannon Price has spent without her kids. She’s currently serving 1-2 years at the Cambria County Prison.

“No, this ain’t my first time in jail and I’m trying to make it my last. I got my support at home. I got my mom,” said Price.

However, this year, she’s found a way to stay connected with her four children: Operation Storybook.

Operation Storybook allows inmates to send their children a Christmas present: a book. The books record the women’s voices, so when their children turn the pages, they’ll hear their mothers reading them a story.

“You can’t be at home being able to do it with them. It’s heartbreaking you can’t reach out and grab them, touch them. So it’s just one step closer,” Price said.

Tammy Sinclair is a corrections counselor. She said the holidays are a tough time for inmates, so being able to feel close to their children means a lot.

“We’ll send them out to kids right before Christmas so they have a present to open from their mother,” Sinclair said.

Dr. Elizabeth Mansley is an associate criminology professor at Mount Aloysius College. She started Operation Storybook three years ago. Between student fundraisers and a $5,000 grant, she’s helped 125 moms and dads send books to their kids.

“It’s very easy to think in your head that people in prison are bad and they deserve what they get. And while I’m not sure that’s true, I am sure their kids have done nothing wrong,” Mansley said.

Mansley said strong family bonds can help break the cycle of re-incarceration, which is currently around 70 percent nationally.

“Helping them feel connected to their families can prevent re-offending. I think we owe something to these children if we’re taking their parents away to try to help make their parents better,” Mansley said.

Kayla Clark said her 5-year-old son Kayson loves to read, so this book will be the perfect present.

“It brings joy. This is a blessed opportunity,” Clark said.

Price said she has big plans for next Christmas.

“I’ll be opening presents with my children. And celebrating this day with them and eating lots of food,” Price said.

Until then, the storybook will help her feel closer to home this holiday season.