BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

CAPRON— Prisoners from the Deerfield Men’s Work Center made a $2,400 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation on Thursday.

To raise the money, inmates at the Men’s Work Center, one of several facilitates at the Deerfield Correctional Center, washed employee’s cars, charging $5 for a basic car wash or $20 for a wash and wax.

“Some of the men that volunteered have lost mothers and grandmothers to breast cancer, some have mothers that are survivors,” said Beth Cabell, 45, Assistant Warden over the Deerfield Men’s Work Center. “It was personal for a lot of them.”

Deerfield Men’s Work Center houses level 1 offenders who have no escape risk and present the lowest possible risk to the community, and their likelihood to re-offend is considered minimal. Many are first time offenders.

As part of the complex-wide initiative, 147 inmates from the Work Center walked to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

“This is the second year of the voluntary walk, all of these guys just wanted to come out and support the cause, they felt like it was something they could do to make the statement,” Cabell said.

Cecelia Carter, 56, a case management counselor at Deerfield Correctional Center was ecstatic not only because of how much they donated, but that the inmates found a way to give back.

“They did an outstanding job,” said Carter. “ Its a magnificent contribution. Those guys worked so hard to make their contribution to the fundraiser. They didn’t have to do it, but guess what? They did and of their own free will.”

Also as part of the complex initiative, a silent auction was set to take place throughout the day that included crocheted items by the Women’s Work Center, as well as a walk by the Women’s Work Center later in the morning.

“It’s really overwhelming. It’s nice to see these men in the situation that they’re in, want to do something positive,” said Cabell.