Easter, spring events benefit community

April 19, 2025

Across California, CDCR and CCHCS staff, along with help from the incarcerated population, celebrated spring and Easter with donations to benefit the community. This story will be updated as more submissions are received. Stories on Easter visiting will be compiled in a separate round-up.

North Kern, SATF donate baskets to Valley Children’s Hospital

North Kern State Prison and Substance Abuse Treatment Facility staff with gift baskets.

The spirit of giving shone brightly as North Kern State Prison, collaborating with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran (SATF), orchestrated a remarkable gift basket drive for Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera.

Fueled by generous staff contributions, the initiative resulted in 300 hand-built Easter baskets to benefit the community. According to organizers, the baskets were assembled to bring joy to the young patients and their siblings.

This collective outpouring of support served as a powerful reminder of the community’s capacity for compassion.

Adding to this effort, the incarcerated population at North Kern also stepped up, raising nearly $1,500 to donate board games to the hospital. This action demonstrated their commitment to giving back and brightening the lives of children in need.

Written by Courtney Cardoza, community resources manager
Submitted by Lt. Jennifer Hooten
North Kern State Prison

Ironwood delivers Easter baskets to community youth

Ironwood Prison delivers Easter baskets to the community.

Ironwood State Prison delivered 102 Easter baskets April 14 to the youth of the Blythe community. Recipients included Riverside County Departments of Public Social Services, Felix J. Appleby Elementary School, Margaret White Elementary School, and Ruth Brown Elementary School. Delivery was facilitated and handled by acting Warden Christopher Pierce and other administrators.

Project: Easter Basket takes over a month to put together and represents a team effort between staff and incarcerated people. The incarcerated population builds and paints the wooden buddy shaped baskets, while the elementary schools and social services generate of list of underprivileged youth. Staff select the basket of their choosing, fill it with age-appropriate goodies and wrap them prior to delivery.

“A big thank you to all Ironwood State Prison staff members in various departments who took the initiative and had the heart to have a positive impact on the lives of these kids,” said organizers.

Submitted by Lt. Chelsi Whalen

See more community involvement stories.

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