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Ohio prison farms donate $23,000 worth of food

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By Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writer 12:33 AM Tuesday, November 24, 2009

COLUMBUS — Inmates harvested 106,734 pounds of winter wheat, corn and other crops this fall from state prison farms and donated it to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, according to prison officials.

The offenders harvested the food between August and October at four of Ohio’s prisons. And 100 acres of winter wheat had been planted specifically for the food bank donation.

The food was valued at roughly $23,500.

“By growing and harvesting crops for the Second Harvest Food Bank, offenders are given an opportunity not only to give back to their community, but by working on the farms they are learning a valuable skill that can assist them upon their release,” Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Director Terry Collins said. “We look forward to continuing and expanding this partnership in the years to come.”

Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Second Harvest’s director, called it a first of its kind effort.

The food banks reported a 21 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance and a new report said 13.3 percent of Ohioans are “food insecure,” meaning they don’t have consistent access to adequate, nutritious food, according to Hamler-Fugitt.

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I think it's wonderful to see that they are doing this... This is things that You really don't get to hear about what good they do while they are locked up..

So remember where your wheat, corn and other crops came from this yea, From a convict that most talk down on that should actually see the good in them when it's shown to the public!!

Loving My Ex-Con
8:14 PM, 11/29/2009

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You can't eat seed. The inmates took the seed and made food out of it for others to eat. I would think that it's been a long time since many of the inmates were able or inclined to do something for the benefit of others. Good for them. I hope that many of them LIKED the feeling of doing for others and want to participate again. It's ALWAYS nice to feel useful, and they probably don't get that very often in prison.

Inmates are sometimes nice...
10:05 AM, 11/24/2009

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I see nothing wrong with congratulating the inmates for doing good for others. Some of those people WILL be back in society, and MAYBE the feeling of purpose they experienced from this activity, along with the skills they learned, will help ensure that some of them improve their lives and stop reoffending. Doing for others, in whatever way you can, is a positive thing. I don't understand why you want to take that bit of satisfaction from them.

Hardhearts are not majority
10:00 AM, 11/24/2009

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In the Know, If the seed is provided by others, just what is being donated? Labor? I believe the taxpayers of Ohio are providing the donation by paying for the incarcerated labor. Still, a warm and fuzzy story for this time of year,

what??
8:46 AM, 11/24/2009

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It is a common demand that prisoners 'work' in the community to offset budget issues or help do this or that. The sad reality is that every prisoner employed in a 'useful' occupation deprives another citizen of a job. Labor unions and local business leaders are often the biggest opponents. How does John Q. Public expect to recieve a fair wage when business 'X' pays it's convict laborers 10 cents an hour, if anything? It may seem unfair, but incarceration IS the punishment. That's the law.

fortressdayton
8:26 AM, 11/24/2009

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