COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The kids of incarcerated women at the Camille Graham and Goodman Correctional Institutions got a special surprise from Old St. Nick Saturday morning.

South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan Sterling donned the big red suit to gift those kids with audio storybooks recorded by their mothers.

The mothers also got to spend time with their children at a Christmas Party organized by the Department of Corrections as a part of the Riley's Readers program.

The state initiative allows female inmates to record storybooks for their children to keep.

WIS spoke with Miss South Carolina who helped give out the books this morning.

"[This offers] these children an opportunity to have a little piece of their parents at home with them, because I know in the evening is when you miss your parent the most," said Davis Walsh, Miss South Carolina. "So, to be able to offer them some comfort in the evenings is so special."

So far, more than 500 storybooks have been recorded by inmates through this initiative.