Incarcerated population raises $6k for Lassen Family Services
By HDSP Mental Health staff
High Desert State Prison staff and the incarcerated population participated in a variety of events to raise awareness about suicide prevention. They also raised over $6,000 for a local charity.
The mental health department hosted staff appreciation offering snacks and educational materials.
Staff also participated in a T-shirt design contest. Entries were submitted by multiple departments across the institution, with the winning design submitted by Senior Accounting Officer Teresa Stalter, who received a free T-shirt.
Staff and inmates participated in the creative expression event dubbed Building Blocks of Support. The entrance building, as well as each yard, was decorated with a display of artwork and poetry sending positive messaging and inspiration to all who walked by.
Some inmates contributed additional artwork for the contest. Mental health staff showed dedication and resiliency by “taking the show on the road” with cell-front voting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as increased Air Quality Index scores from surrounding wildfires, programming was anything but routine. Door-to-door efforts paid off with inmates raising over $6,000 for Lassen Family Services.
To further educate inmates and increase positive messaging, PowerPoint presentations were created and aired on Channel 17 on inmate televisions.
Topics included “A Giggle Goes a Long Way” and “Taking Care of You.” Mental health staff is now working on a newsletter to inform inmates about the results of the art contest and the grand total contributed to the local charitable organization. The yard with the highest amount in donations will be rewarded with an ice cream themed food sale with proceeds again going to charity.
