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Buster Cole State Jail food donation shows compassion for community
By Mary Karl, Buster Cole State Jail
Dec 21, 2004

Senior Warden Bryan D. Vandagriff is very proud of his employees all year
through. 

But, at a time of year when so many families are in need, the staff has once again stepped forward to prove there is no limit to their generosity and compassion for our community.

In a fun, friendly competition between departments, with a pizza party
(courtesy of the wardens) as the grand prize, employees have encouraged one
another to get involved and bring in those canned goods to help in the total
canned food drive. 

Each day for the past week, the total weight of the canned items has been tallied for each team and stored with excitement about the pending outcome of the contest.

As of the deadline on noon, Monday, December 20, 2004, a total of
approximately 8,463 lbs. of canned goods had been collected. 

The employees of the Buster Cole State Jail definitely know the joy of giving and sharing the blessings of the season and were happy to participate in this worthy
event.

The winners of the contest, donating the largest amount, was "Team 5" which
included staff from the Field Department, Community Service, Food Service
Department, Property, Compliance, Back Gate and Security Threat Group
Departments. 

Cash donations were taken up from team members to purchase items from the Campbell Soup plant in Paris, Texas. 

Thru the further generosity of the Campbell Soup Company and their representative Mary Mead, this portion of the canned food drive far exceeded expectations and allowed a much larger overall successful effort to occur. 

The total for this group well exceeded 7,700 lbs. donated.

With an inspiring second place finish, the security shift with the least number of employees collected 300 lbs. of the final total. 

Our congratulations to "Team 3" comprised of Third Shift Security staff on this
noteworthy and determined effort. 

It should be noted that this same shift won the same contest last year, defeating groups with higher numbers of team members.

The photographs attached are of the first trailer load of canned goods, loaded and departing the facility in route to be delivered and distributed to local area families by Compass Ministries.  Another trailer load departed the facility shortly thereafter.

Several members of the winning team are pictured with only a portion of
their group's donation (from left to right);  Travis Howery, Lt. John
Miller, Steven Farley, David Johnson, Stanley Larue, Falicia Fuller, Jerri
Maddox, Mark Taylor and Ken Wilson.

Joyce Chavez of Compass Ministries stated she was grateful to those that
donated the canned goods for "how many smiles they have put on the faces of
the children and being able to let them load up with a food basket, just
like Santa packed it for them...God is good."