Prison food sales raise $36,600 to help others

The incarcerated population at three California prisons raised $36,600 through food sales, benefiting community non-profit organizations. Institutions included California City Correctional Facility, Pleasant Valley State Prison, and California Health Care Facility.

CAC incarcerated population raises $18,000 for victims

The food sale at CAC raised $9,020 for CherishedLA as well as another $9,020 for MADD.

Funds from an April food sale were recently donated to two organizations, with each receiving $9,020.

California City Correctional Facility (CAC) incarcerated population held a food sale in April in honor of National Crime Victims Rights Week. Offerings included fried chicken, rolls, cake and cookies from Stater Bros Market with all facilities able to participate. Outside volunteers from the Kairos Leadership group rented trucks to deliver the large order over two separate days.

Kern County MADD (Moms against drunk drivers) and CherishedLA were the recipients of the $18,040 food sale.

CherishedLA is a survivor-led organization with a mission to equip and empower survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. In 2015, CherishedLA opened its residential program to provide survivors of human trafficking and commercialized sexual exploitation with comprehensive trauma recovery treatment.

Community Resources Manager Rebecca Dennis presented the check to founder Kate Ouimette-Wedell and Executive Director Kayla Campbell at the studio. They said the donation would go toward helping them open a cosmetology school for participants.

“Wow. This is the first seed money for the school,” said Ouimette-Wedell. “Unbelievable. I’m in awe.”

CherishedLA is solely funded by donations and sales from their online store.

For more information, visit the organization’s website.

Kern County MADD is an organization out of Bakersfield representing Kern County.

Kim Christianson said that she was very grateful MADD was chosen for the donation. MADD is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drunk driving, support victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking.

The food sale funds are going toward the group’s signature fundraiser, Walk like MADD held in September. For more information on the walk, visit www.walklikemadd.org.

Submitted by Lieutenant J. Edwards

Pleasant Valley raises $14k to help children

Food sale fundraiser check with five people in front of a prison.From left are CRM (A) Justin Nugent, AGPA Linda Labandeira; Donna Colldar, Valley Childen’s Healthcare; Ron Godwin, Warden (A); and Gracie Arredondo, OT.People hold oversized check in front of a prison.From left are Ryan Anderson, AW Business Services; Raquel Barker AW, ADA (A); Stephanie Torres, AW, Complex II; Gracie Arredondo, OT; and Justin Nugent, CRM (A).

Food sale fundraisers at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) are helping children in the community.

Warden (A) Ron Godwin, Chief Deputy Warden Maria Faulkner and prison administrative staff have encouraged incarcerated activity groups to find organizations primarily serving children. For the first fundraiser of the year, the incarcerated population selected two organizations, raising $14,810.

A longtime favorite charity of the incarcerated population, Valley Children’s Hospital is often selected as a recipient of their fundraising efforts because of the important work they do in pediatric healthcare. As one of the only pediatric hospitals in the Central San Joaquin Valley, they serve the large population of children in the area.

The second selected charity, Courted Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Fresno and Madera Counties, serve foster youth in the region. They guide children through the sometimes difficult and confusing legal process. Wilma Hashimoto, Executive Director at CASA, noted that during the pandemic, volunteer advocates were called upon to help find creative solutions in the new online environment so children didn’t fall behind academically.

learn more:

Valley Children’s Healthcare: Ways to Give | Valley Children’s Healthcare (valleychildrens.org)

CASA Fresno Madera: Ways to Give – CASA of Fresno Madera Counties (casafresnomadera.org)

By Lieutenant Carlos Mendoza

CHCF donates over $3,700 to at-risk kids

Three incarcerated men hold an oversized check while two dogs rest at their feet.Those incarcerated on Facility E at CHCF held a food sale, donating over $3,700 to the Stockton Children’s Home.Correctional staff and people in regular clothing with an oversized check and the California Health Care Facility sign.CHCF staff presented a check to the Stockton Children’s Home.

The California Health Care Facility incarcerated population and staff were honored to donate $3,749 to the Children’s Home of Stockton. The beneficiary is a local non-profit providing comprehensive educational and therapeutic services to adolescents.

The children’s home is one of the largest social services organizations in Stockton. For over 140 years, the home has been serving at-risk youth in San Joaquin County and throughout California. The funds were raised by 400 incarcerated individuals housed on Facility E.

By Lieutenant W. Lewis

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