October was a busy month for Wasco State Prison-Reception Center as staff and residents raised funds for charities and helped veterans. This is a brief round-up of those events.
Staff sponsors two veterans for Kern County Honor Flight
In early October, WSP-RC staff donated $3,000 to the Kern County Honor Flight Association, sending two veterans to the Washington DC war memorial.
The Kern County Honor Flight seeks sponsorships at $1,500 per veteran to send them on an all-expenses paid trip to visit their war memorial in the nation’s capital.
In addition, WSP-RC staff volunteered their time in downtown Bakersfield to serve the veterans breakfast. It also allowed staff to present the check during the monthly Honor Flight Veterans Breakfast.
Wasco recognizes 66 during ISUDT graduation
On Oct. 13, WSP-RC staff and residents housed on the Facility A Level III mainline came together to recognize 66 graduates of the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) program. Since 2020, WSP-RC has seen 128 participants in the ISUDT program complete the course. ISUDT Program Director Holly Bishop and Division of Rehabilitative Programs Correctional Counselor III Arlene Garcia were also in attendance.
Staff appreciation included food, fun
On Oct. 19, the WSP-RC Employee Liaison Committee held its annual staff appreciation carnival. The event recognizes staff’s hard work.
The carnival boasted a DJ, popcorn, snow cones, tri-tip lunches for second and third watch staff and breakfast burritos for first watch. There were carnival games with a chance to win prizes.
In the “soak a boss balloon toss,” staff threw water balloons at their favorite manager or supervisor.
Everything was free for staff members except for the balloon toss with proceeds going to the Kern County Honor Flight Association.
Some of the brave, but soaked, souls included associate wardens, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and the Warden herself, who volunteered for the second and third watch staff.
Incarcerated population donates $4,300 to domestic violence program
On Oct. 24, the Warden, Community Resources Manager C. Saldana, and members of the WSP-RC Facility A Inmate’s Advisory Counsel Executive board, came together in the Facility A Visiting room to donate $4,366 to program directors from The Open Door Network.
The organization is formally known as the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, a Kern County non-profit group.
The population sat down and met with the non-profit directors to learn a little about their organization and how the money will be used. Following the meeting, there was a check presentation ceremony.
Submitted by Lt. J. Farley