Prisoners Give Back to Society

Friday 02nd of February 2007 07:43:42 PM

In New Haven, Connecticut, USA, many who live in Life Haven, a homeless shelter for women and children, were surprised when department officials from the Osborn Correctional Institution paid them a visit. The supervised prisoners brought with them t-shirts, dolls stuffed with materials from prison uniforms, footballs, and cars made from wood. The children who received these toys live with their mothers in the shelter.

Efforts are being made throughout Connecticut and many other states in the United States to teach inmates skills they can use once they are let out of prison. Skills such as textiles production, carpentry, food services, and more are being taught to prisoners. Toys made at the Osborn Correctional Institution were practice pieces that prisoners worked on to show that they were ready to learn more advanced skills.

Work programs were originally created as a way for prisons to save money. Making prison uniforms, bathrobes, and preparing meals save prisons a lot of money each year. Giving back to non-profit organisations like Life Haven helps them to continue providing care to those who live there. In response to the generous gifts, Life Haven executive director, Jacqueline Pheanious said, “It was a welcome act of kindness, especially when funding cuts have left the agency struggling to maintain services, much less buy dozens of toys for all the children.”

Handmade dolls were given to many of the children. The dolls were constructed using prison uniforms, draw strings from hooded sweatshirts, and the faces stitched by the prison embroidery department.

As a result of this deed, other prisons are now looking to incorporate work programs and charity into their departments. To the people who participated in making the toys and distributing them to the children who received them, these gifts serve as a way to teach and show kindness to everyone involved.

(c)baratibor, www.sxc.hu