I've Gotten So Much More than I Was Able to Give. Grafton Correctional.

One Hundred and One. 

Today’s episode was recorded and filmed onsite at Grafton on a beautiful Fall sunny day in their garden.  This is Part Two of my 100^thEpisode, released on a cold winter day.  During my visit, I talked with inmates and leaders at the Grafton Correctional Institute, where Hope is provided daily.  In 2024, the garden grew and distributed 23,000 pounds of produce.

This 100^th Episode is in two parts. Part One was with two of the Caretakers. This is Part Two, with Sister Rita Mary and Frank, who talk about starting Prison Ministries in 1996 and how it has grown to 450 volunteers. The volunteers have  commented “I volunteered for prison ministry because I wanted to help, I wanted to encourage people. So I'm doing it and I love it.” And “I've gotten so much more than I was able to give.”  One of those Ministries started in 2020 was the Garden Ministry.

And if you hear gunshots in the background its because officers were getting the annual certification. 

#eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodasmedicine #hope #garden #volunteer

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Look for information on Grafton at https://drc.ohio.gov/about/facilities/grafton-correctional  

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Segment Notes:

Intro

Recap of Part One

• Great conversation with The Garden Caretakers
• If You Want to Start a Garden, Just Do It
• Sister Rita Mary takes 800lbs of Produce to Those in Need in her Toyota
• She Drives to the Cosgrove Center where they also take food to Lorain and Akron
• That Delivery will feed 1000s of People

How Did The Grafton Garden Start  4:51

• 1996 Bishop Quinn asked Sister Rita Mary to Start a Ministry for the Incarcerated.
• Started with 135 Volunteers
• By 2020 had 450 People Working with the Prison Ministry
• Formed the LEAF Ministry: Listening, Encouraging, Assisting Families
• “I volunteered for prison ministry because I wanted to help, I wanted to encourage people. So I'm doing it and I love it.”
• “I've gotten so much more than I was able to give.”
• Now Still Trying to Rebuild the Volunteer Base Since the Pandemic in 2020
• Garden Ministry: Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually they can see Themselves Doing Something Good and it's Rewarding for Those Working in the Garden.
• During the Pandemic, inmates started making masks for Catholic Charities and then Schools
• Then they started the Garden and Grew 3,000lbs in the First Year
• This has come out of the desire of these gentlemen to really help the community. That's what it's all about.

We Need More of These Programs. 15:26

• 47M people in the US Do Not Know Where Their Next Meal is Coming From
• The Program Benefits the People Receiving the Food AND the People Growing the Food
• Other Ohio Prisons are Starting or Considering Programs

How Would People from the Community Get Involved?  17:08

• Largest Need is in the Counties
• Grafton Support is Healthy. It’s a Transition Place, Getting People Ready to Go Out

The Recipe – Vegetable Soup from the Garden. 22:24

• End of Year Event at Grafton – Catholic Charities and Grafton Admin Cook for the Men and Families
• Pizza Night with Families between Sept and the End of Year Event

Final Thoughts  25:47

• When men or women have Served their Time and We're There as a Community to Welcome Them Back

The Sante Foundation, to raise money, bring awareness, and build Centers to bring healthy food and services into underserved urban neighborhoods. In the world we live in today, we all need to do more to support one another and bring Hope into other people’s lives.

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